Rule #32: The Power of 15 Minutes
I’ve started a dozen companies, sold them, and been asked countless times, “What’s the secret to success?” I wish there was some magic investment, a secret course, or a shortcut I could hand my kids to jumpstart their journey. But the truth is simpler — it all comes down to just 15 minutes.
The Workplace Reality
In my first real full-time job at Harleysville Insurance, I noticed something telling: nearly everyone showed up right at 8:30 a.m. and left just as the clock hit 5 p.m. Maybe a few came early or stayed late, but 99% of the people were gone by 5:15.
The executives? They didn’t burn the midnight oil every night. Instead, they put in a little more than the masses — a few minutes extra in the morning, a few after hours. So I made a choice: never leave before I finished what I was doing and always tidy my desk for the next day. Just those extra minutes at the start and end made me stand out. It showed my bosses I cared — and they noticed.
And it wasn’t just the work. The relationships mattered, too. Stopping at Dunkin’ for two coffees instead of one and offering the extra to a boss or coworker? That small gesture built rapport and showed I was invested. It’s the 15 minutes, the coffee, the little differences that set you apart.
The Tom Brady Effect
Tom Brady isn’t the fastest. He’s not the strongest arm. He doesn’t have the flashy agility of younger quarterbacks. But he has one thing the others don’t — relentless, consistent effort over time.
During the pandemic, while many paused or slowed down, Brady was training, honing his craft. He shows up every day, puts in that extra 15 minutes on and off the field, and proves that marginal gains lead to monumental success. That’s why he’s the GOAT with 600+ wins.
Sure, I used to hate him — the face of everything I resented in sports. But now, I respect him deeply. His work ethic, his commitment, his refusal to settle for “good enough” — those are the very essence of the 15-minute rule.
He earns the respect of his teammates not by grand speeches but by showing up, by pushing just a little harder, a little longer, a little smarter than everyone else.
The Family Connection
This rule applies even more clearly to the people who matter most — your family.
They don’t need your time in big chunks. What they crave — what they respect — is your focused, undivided attention. Fifteen minutes of genuine connection with your partner or your kids each day can change everything.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, to think you don’t have time. But those small, consistent moments build respect, trust, and love. They create a foundation where everything else in life becomes possible.
Why It Matters
Because at the end of the day, it’s not the hours you put in, but the quality and consistency of those minutes. Respect isn’t given; it’s earned — through the little things, the extra effort, the presence.
Closing Thought:
“You don’t need to be the fastest, the loudest, or the most talented. You just need to be the one who’s willing to give the extra 15 minutes. Because after you have their respect, all things are possible. Without it, even the biggest wins will feel empty and meaningless.”
Love, Dad