Executive TLDR
Everyone wants significance — leadership begins with belief.
Dreams require accountability, coachability, and action.
Fear disappears through activity and consistent work.
This is a people business — lead with love and belief.
Long-term commitment builds lifestyle and generational legacy.
Video Summary
In Everybody Wants To Be Somebody — And That’s Where It All Begins, Jon and Patte Lavin deliver a heartfelt and energizing message centered on belief, dreams, leadership, and legacy.
Patte Lavin reflects on her early experience attending her first meeting where Art Williams declared, “Everybody wants to be somebody.” That message ignited a mission to build significance through service and leadership. She explains that before entering the business, she had never set structured dreams or goals. Once she understood that without dreams she would become part of someone else’s vision, she committed to building her own.
The Lavins credit their long-term success to coachability, accountability, and consistent work ethic. They emphasize that dreams require “dream work” — learning presentations, making calls, prospecting daily, and pushing through fear. Fear does not disappear by avoiding activity; it disappears through action.
Patte highlights the importance of leading with love in a people business. Relationships can be challenging, and people may disappoint you, but leadership requires continuing to believe in others. She stresses belief transfer — instilling confidence in people who may not yet believe in themselves.
Jon Lavin is described as a teacher of teachers — simplifying complex ideas and mentoring leaders inside and outside their hierarchy. Together, they emphasize building culture, staying coachable, and consistently doing the work over decades.
The result of sustained effort, duplication, and leadership development is a lifestyle of flexibility, family time, travel, and generational impact. However, they stress that lifestyle is not the goal — impact is. Their primary mission was to change their family’s financial legacy and then expand that opportunity to their team and community.
They close by reminding leaders not to keep the opportunity a secret. The work is worth doing. Encourage yourself, face fear, lead with love, and build something that lasts for generations.
FAQs
1. What does “Everybody wants to be somebody” mean?
It speaks to the universal desire for significance, purpose, and impact.
2. How did Jon and Patte start building their vision?
By setting dreams and goals and committing to consistent action.
3. Why is coachability important?
Coachability accelerates growth and keeps leaders aligned with proven systems.
4. What is “dream work”?
The daily activity required to turn goals into reality — calls, presentations, prospecting, and training.
5. How do you overcome fear in business?
By taking action despite fear and staying active consistently.
6. Why is Primerica called a people business?
Success depends on relationships, belief transfer, and leadership development.
7. What does it mean to lead with love?
Supporting, encouraging, and believing in others even during challenges.
8. What role does accountability play?
Accountability keeps dreams aligned with action and prevents complacency.
9. Why is belief transfer powerful?
Many people don’t believe in themselves until someone else does first.
10. What builds long-term leadership credibility?
Decades of consistency, integrity, and mentorship.
11. How do relationships impact growth?
They can be challenging, but strong relationships create duplication and depth.
12. What is generational legacy in this context?
Creating financial stability and opportunity that benefits future generations.
13. Why is work ethic emphasized?
Sustained effort over time produces lasting results.
14. What makes this opportunity unique?
Leadership growth is not limited by background, diversity, or starting point.
15. How do leaders stay motivated long term?
By focusing on purpose, impact, and the lives they influence.
16. Why should leaders share the opportunity?
Because the impact extends beyond personal success to community change.
17. What mindset sustains longevity?
Gratitude, resilience, accountability, and self-encouragement.
18. What is the ultimate takeaway?
Believe in yourself, do the work, lead with love, and build a legacy that lasts.
Glossary
Belief Transfer – Instilling confidence in others before they believe in themselves.
Coachability – Willingness to learn, accept guidance, and follow proven systems.
Dream Work – The daily activity required to achieve long-term goals.
People Business – A leadership model built on relationships and mentorship.
Generational Legacy – Creating lasting financial and leadership impact for future generations.
Accountability – Being responsible for consistent action toward goals.
Lead With Love – Leading through encouragement, belief, and service.
Transcript:
I just love coming here. I love the energy in this room. I love the leadership in this room. I love Haitian nation. Today’s RVP meeting was incredible. And to see, like, three. I love diversity. I love diversity, and that’s what I’ve always loved about this incredible business when we started so many years ago, 46 years, is that they just looked at not your color, they looked at your heart. And I saw that years ago, and I see it every single day. And of all the Haitian friends that were up here today, we’ve got to see them grow as little babies and become incredible leaders that have such impact in their communities, in the world. And back in Haiti. And they’re at.
We saw them as young leaders, and now each of them make either the same amount of money as us or Charlemagne makes more money than us. And that is a beautiful thing in Primerica. Art Williams always said, we will close the doors if the opportunity isn’t as great as today as it was when we started. And that makes me really proud. So I’m proud of everyone in this room. So let’s have a little fun, okay? Johnny did bring me to the meeting. I didn’t want to go. Anyone ever been in that position before did not want to go to the meeting. He promised me a dozen oysters and a pitcher beer after. Okay? I didn’t take much. I guess takes a lot more these days. So I went. And you know what happened at that meeting? I fell in love. Okay?
I heard Art Williams stand up and say, everybody wants to be somebody. And I’m sitting there thinking to myself, well, I want to be somebody. I didn’t even know I wanted to be somebody before that meeting, right? Have y’ all ever had that? I didn’t know I wanted to be somebody. I fell in love with that, and every single day woke up with that mission. Johnny and I looked at each other. We joined forces, and we wanted to be somebody. And he declared himself today a legend. And I’m gonna declare myself as somebody today, okay? We are somebod, okay? But I just want to. I mean, our life is so fast and furious. The first thing they said for us to do is that we had to have dreams and goals, right? Well, I didn’t know. I’d never had dreams and goals.
My parents weren’t, you know, they weren’t entrepreneurs. I didn’t know. We weren’t never very good at that until I read one day that if you don’t have dreams and goals, you will be a stepping stone to. To someone else’s dreams and goals, right? And I was like, well, damn, I’m going to get some dreams and goals, right? So we’ve always done that. And with dreams and goals becomes accountability. I think that we’ve always been held accountable. Dick Walker’s always said that were the most coachable people that he’s ever brought into the business. So were always coachable. We were accountable to him, and we had work ethic. With dreams and goals, you have to have an action plan. And what the action plan brought for me was a lot of fear as well. So anyone can relate, like having to do the dream work.
Because to have your dreams come true, there’s all the dream work. That’s the presentations, learning presentations, the prospecting, the 100 calls a day. That’s the dream work. And that’s how your dreams and goals become reality. But fear stops us. I see it happen so many times. So you don’t overcome fear by not doing the work. You overcome the fear by facing your fear and getting busy. And it’s okay that somebody says no. It’s okay that you stumble. It’s okay that you fall flat on your face, okay? But you just get out there and you do the work because you deserve it. Your family deserves it. Our communities deserve it. What we do has impact.
And I feel so proud that every day that we get up and I get to really make a difference doing what we love to do with the person that I love doing it with. And we’ve done that for so many years. Right? That’s a beautiful thing. And now our son joins the business with us and it just brings me such joy. And so we did the work. I faced my fear and, you know, every single day, relationships. This is a people business. Do people hurt your heart? Yes, they do. And they will continue to do it. But we’re in the people business, okay? You won’t get hurt at all if you don’t have any people, okay? Just won’t. It just won’t. Is it worth it? Do you get better? Do you get tougher?
Yeah, you get tougher, but you’re not going to let an experience stop you from pouring in. I lead with love, and I’m a big proponent of that. I think we all should lead with love, okay? Because all people want is somebody to love on them and to believe in them. And I think what I’m really great at, that I’ve contributed to our business with as a partner, is that lead with love. I instill belief in others because a lot of people don’t believe in themselves. And I do. I truly believe in that anyone can do this business if they’ll surrender for eight months and be coachable and listen to us and let’s go get busy and change your life. So that’s what I think that I’ve done. What do you think, Joni? Is that good? Did I do that well? Okay. Okay.
So seeing that I did all of that and Johnny’s like, incredible leader. He’s a mentor to so many people that not even in our hierarchy. People love John Lavin. I think that he makes it very simplified. People can relate to him to where he’s a great teacher of teachers. And so we did all the work and we get to live a lifestyle now that I’m always a little under the radar. I don’t like to show my stuff and. But I got good stuff. Okay. So I’m just going to share. I think it was like the last four months, I’ve just been busy, so hit the green button. Okay. Okay. Oh, so how do I get out of my way? Oh, okay. So did you see that? Awesome. Since 1960. So we got a call.
I was on the phone and my sister said, do you want to go to Tahiti? And it was like the day after Thanksgiving. I was having 20 people at my house all staying over. And we moved three times this summer to where I tried to downsize, but it didn’t work for me, so had to buy bigger. But I was able to say yes. I would say, Johnny. I said I was going to be 65, and you’ve got to go to Tahiti when you can still do it. That was a hard work. We snorkeled every day. It was a lot of fun. And were in a catamaran with five couples. Great friends. So that’s where we started. Okay, look at me. Look at that, huh? Look at me there. We had a chef. We had a captain. Three meals a day.
We did snorkeling every day. We stayed in Bora. We got those huts, like, right on. And then you dive off the hut. And it was just amazing. Again, I’m looking so fine for 65. I don’t know. I just can’t help myself. I’ve never seen me on the big screen like that. And they asked me if I wanted a handheld Mac. I’m like, no, Madonna. Strike a pose. Right? You got to do that. So, okay, that was that. Johnny and I, the countryside was just so beautiful. I highly recommend it. We flew for the different islands to get to Our catamaran. The water there is so gorgeous. Oh, my God, it’s so amazing. Look at Johnny. So that’s called the owl’s nest. Okay. So I’ve never seen him so relaxed. No golf clubs, people.
I didn’t know if were going to have to throw him overboard or what, but no, he did really well. That was our boat. Five staterooms. Look at that, huh? And then one day were there and all this school of dolphins came up. So. I love dolphins. I think I was one in another life. Okay? Just fun. Fun every night. That’s my sister and I, we had so much fun. We did a two hour jet ski all around Bora. That was amazing. Look at that again. Aren’t we cute, huh? Primerica. I think you get cuter as you get older when you have money. Okay. I really do. Okay. I do. I do. Oh, and there’s all these beautiful churches. And you just think of the, you know, they’re island people. I mean, they didn’t wear shoes and they’re going to their beautiful churches.
There’s me not looking so cute. I didn’t want that one in there, but Johnny liked it. Okay. Then went to a pearl farm. The black Tahitian pearls. So we got to see this family owned. It was so beautiful. You see all my pearls? 40, no, 52 pearls. I got. Okay. And this was fun. This is where they’re closing you in this room. Okay. It’s a big closing room. Okay. And then this was. We got off the boat. That’s my brother in law, my sister Suzanne. That’s a martini. I had fun that night. Got my butt off that boat. I was happy. Like some real ground, right? Okay. It was just gorgeous. Look at that. Look at that. Okay. Then I told y’ all that I didn’t like downsizing. So this was what we just bought.
So we moved in here in July and it was owned. It was a house that was owned by former owner of the Eagles football team. And it’s got this huge pool, I think that was so all the defensive linemen. And you know, it’s a big pool. They had to be big for them to all jump in, right? So it’s on 1.61 acres. And I did that so that I could be next to my grandchildren. So. And have a place where they want to come 24, 7, right? Want to go jump? And we got a big trampoline. I want to jump at GMO’s house. That’s my name, G Ma. I named myself that. They did, because I thought it was a little hipster, little gangster, right? That’s me. Yeah, that’s me. Okay. This is a house where we live in Florida, the community pool.
This is. We were in Whistler. That was an incredible trip. And this was really. Look at that. Look at those studs, huh? That’s Thomas and John Conover. To be able to go and have fun with your teammates, I mean, that’s what it’s all about, right? It’s great. Turrets are wonderful. You must win them. Look at those little stud muffins. That’s us going up in the tram. I mean, look at that. That’s a framer right there. Whistler was so beautiful. We had a house in Margate, New Jersey. And that’s just with the family. That’s our daughter Sophie, son Zach, Fran. She’s an incredible mother. Zach’s a great daddy too. And my three little grandkids. That’s Miles is the oldest, he’s seven, Grant is five and Margot is three. And we say she runs us. All right?
And then someone said today, they were like, is she like the queen? I’m like, no, that would be me. She’s a princess. Okay? Don’t you take my queen title away from me. Okay? Hello. And then, oh, and then we go and we take them all. My dream, I always told my daughter in law, she’s moved back. She moved over here in what? She was in sixth grade. And I said, I want to take you back. Her family’s in London. So we took all the kids and Zach. Just give Zach a credit card and he can find the best Airbnbs. He finds houses for us that second gen. They can spend your money, let me tell you. Okay, okay. And he makes his money too, though, so that’s even better, right? But oh my God, we had so much fun in London.
And then that’s Sophie. We just had a ball. A lot of rain over there. Miles was chosen to be in the market, like one of the kids that performs. It was so much fun. And I just thought I’d look cute there again. Right? And then, and then we moved on to the cops. Okay. And this was like Henry VIII stayed here, some barren place. It was just so beautiful. We’d have, you know, high tea in the afternoon and felt, you know, that’s Sophie and I, Margot and Jima. It’s just so beautiful. And then we spoke over Johnny. Only John Lavin would come and say, oh, you’re speaking tonight in London. I’m like, I’m what? So this is Jeff Lutz. They had Jennistar. They used to be Primerica. A Williams went over there. So now I can say that I spoke in London.
So I spoke for 20 minutes. We got to write the whole thing off. I’m blond, but okay, here’s me being silly over there as well. Oh, and then from there came home. And then we go every year to France. And this is in Bordeaux and this beautiful place called Pilau. And there’s sand. It’s the largest sand dune. It’s the Atlantic Ocean. And you just go and you eat the best oysters. And then a glass full, like a jar full of pate and a piece of bread and a bottle of white wine. And it’s like, that’s all you need. I’m telling you can live off that. So much fun. Here we are again, having fun with a lot of fun things. And then Happy Thanksgiving.
It’s one of my favorite holidays because, I mean, I have so much to be thankful for and full of gratitude on a day to day basis and give back. And then we had all these people and they spent the night with us for a few days. That’s our new home. And that’s the grandkids. And that’s what it’s all about. As Uncle Twaney. Look at them. They perform. And then I got Miles a new piano for Christmas. How’s he doing, Zach? He could better. He could be. Practice discipline, Zach and Miles. Okay. And then. Oh, and then it was New Year’s Eve and Julie and the Saffords called and said, come to Naples. So we did that. And with the. Did that. Look at Julie. Look at that. Can you imagine that her. Look at her golf cart the way it’s. Of course.
Isn’t that like a Julie Seaman golf cart? Right? She’s got. She had like 50 of those things around her house. Okay. My socks said, nobody likes us and we don’t care. Because I’m an Eagle fan. Do you all feel my pain? Because we do care. But anyway, it was cold that night. I had to put those socks on. And that was just so much fun. And we ended the year. This was our holiday card. And that’s what we worked for. I wanted to change our family’s financial legacy for generations to come. That was what we started out. That was our first purpose. And then we started doing that and I was like, just, it’s not about us. Let’s incorporate everybody on our team. And I know that’s happening. So that’s what you feel good about.
Because Teddy Roosevelt said, one of the greatest joys in life is doing work worth doing. And what we do is worth doing. I mean, there’s so many stories. So you got to feel good about it, but don’t keep it a secret, okay? We got to go out and share what it is that we do and change your family’s lives. They deserve it. You deserve it. And feel good about yourself this year. It’s a hard business, so don’t beat yourself up, okay? Encourage yourself. Lead with love, but lead with love to yourself as well, okay? I love you guys so much. Thank you.
