Mat Ishbia's quotes, sayings

Money is not the end-all be-all

Enjoy your life, keep grinding, and remember that money is not the end-all be-all. Happiness is the goal. Go figure out how to be happy. It’s easier to be happy with money, yes - but real happiness comes from health, taking care of people, and doing right by people. Life is great.

Faster and easier always wins!

Speed always wins in business - in anything you do. Faster wins. No one ever says, “slow it down and make it more complicated.” Faster and easier always wins.

Urgency creates success - don’t delay, respond immediately

The richest and most successful people all share one trait - they respond instantly. I text or email some of the most successful people, and they respond right away. It’s not days later - it’s minutes. Because they want things off their plate, solved, and moved forward. Successful people have a sense of urgency about everything. Money loves speed. Speed always wins in business and in life. Faster and simpler always wins.

Private jets don’t define success. Just go grind!

Don’t try to chase things like flying on a private jet - that’s not how it really works. You’ve got to grind. I don’t live a fancy or showy life. I have one car, I drive myself, and I live beneath my means. I live a fantastic life, but I’ve never tried to impress anyone. Just go grind.

Bet on yourself every day!

Live beneath your means, keep saving, and keep grinding. Eventually you’ll hit one of those breakout years where everything comes together. And every day you keep going is like compounding interest - just keep betting on yourself.

The danger of thinking you've made it

Never relax. Soon as you start thinking 'I made it' - someone hungry and younger will come take your business.

Money follows winners, not chasers

When your goal is just money, you eventually get there and then you stop. Money follows - I don't focus on money at all. I focus on winning and I've made a lot of money.

The pursuit of getting better

How do I get to be the best? The truth is, it's a constant process - you never really get there. You're always trying to get better every single day.

Chase winning, not money

I am not chasing money. I'm chasing winning. I am chasing the best.

Work ethic has been my greatest asset because I'm willing to do things others are unwilling to do.

Competition builds work ethic

I love competition - it drives my work ethic. When you compete, two things happen: you either win and feel great, or you lose and learn what you need to improve so you don't lose again. Competition has driven my work ethic, and that work ethic has been my greatest asset because I'm willing to do things others are unwilling to do.

Everyone has the same 24 hours

No matter how much money you have, everyone has 24 hours. So I focus on how I use every minute - whether I need eight hours of sleep or can push with six or five, whether I'm being productive or just on my phone. Every minute of my day is focused on basketball teams, my kids, or running my mortgage company - and it works.

Time management - you got to balance your time.

Get in early. Stay late. Keep grinding. That's what it takes to be great.

Try to be the best in one thing.