Why Flying First Class Changed My Business Mindset

By Ryan Lee

About five years ago, I started flying first class—not just for the legroom or the complimentary drinks, but because it represented something bigger: a new standard for how I wanted to live and work.

The question I asked myself was simple, yet powerful:
“What needs to be true in my business so I can afford this upgrade consistently?”

That single question didn't just apply to travel. It became a lens through which I began evaluating every aspect of my work and life. Instead of shrinking my ambitions or cutting back, I made the decision to level up.

That mindset continues to shape how I approach challenges, goals, and even family vacations. On a recent trip where I flew coach (long story), I was listening to The Four Agreements and heard a reference to Malcolm Gladwell’s well-known 10,000-hour rule—the idea that it takes roughly 10,000 hours of focused, purposeful practice to become world-class at something.

And that’s where it clicked.

Too often we confuse being busy with being productive. You might have been in your business for five, ten, even fifteen years. But ask yourself honestly:
How many of those hours were spent deliberately improving your craft?

Not just working. Not just checking boxes. But getting better.

As entrepreneurs, we wear a lot of hats—salesperson, designer, installer, manager, marketer. We hustle. We grind. We stay busy. But busyness isn’t mastery.

So here’s my challenge to you this week:

• ✅ Pick one skill you want to be known for.

• ✅ Audit your time—how many hours are you intentionally investing in becoming better at that skill?

• ✅ Make room in your schedule for focused reps.

Because if we want first-class results—in sales, leadership, design, installs—we need first-class focus. Otherwise, those 10,000 hours won’t take 5 years… they’ll take 25.

Don’t wait decades to become the expert you were meant to be.

Keep Moving Forward,
Ryan Lee

# business growth, focused practice, purposeful work, 10,000 hour rule, Ryan Lee, productivity, mindset shift, entrepreneurship, time audit, skill mastery, leadership development #