We all want to be successful in life. Whether you’re climbing the career ladder or pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams, your progress ultimately comes down to you. To reach your goals, you need to take initiative and move forward without waiting for someone else to push you or guide you. In other words, you need to be a self-starter.
When you unlock the key traits that make you a self-starter, everything changes. New opportunities show up. Promotions become easier. Your business grows faster. And you gain a sense of control over your life, making every step forward feel clearer and more intentional. But how do you actually do that?
One of the best ways to refine your skills in business or entrepreneurship is to learn from those who came before you. Taking wisdom from successful self-starters helps you take action in ways you know will get results. Recently, Lauryn and Michael interviewed one of the most impressive businessmen in America—Dana White. Not only did he build his own business from the ground up, but he also saved a failing one. (You can thank Dana for the UFC!)
You can listen to the whole Dana White podcast with TSC below. In the episode, Dana talks about his path to success, his health journey with alternative medicine, his turbulent childhood, his friendship with Donald Trump, and so much more. It’s definitely worth a full listen! But below, we’re sharing the biggest pieces of wisdom he gave listeners about becoming true self-starters.
What Does It Mean to Be a Self-Starter? Advice from Dana White
In this post, we’re going to break down what it actually means to be a self-starter. Afterwards, we’ll look at Dana White’s approach to becoming one, so you can start building those habits yourself.
Here’s what you need to know:
Is Being Self-Starting a Skill?
Absolutely. You’re not born a self-starter. Instead, you become one through grit, resilience, and consistency. That may sound intimidating, but it’s actually a good thing. It means anyone (including you) can sharpen their skills and build the kind of consistency that fuels high-achievers like Dana White.
Fortunately, you can build self-starter skills in a lot of ways—here are a few of the most effective approaches:
- Listen to self-improvement podcasts like the Him & Her Show. Look for episodes with other self-starters like Chriselle Lim, Rick Caruso, and Tony Robbins.
- Read books successful people read. Some of our favorite authors are Arthur Brooks, Mel Robbins, Patrick Bet-David, Michael Masterson, and Seth Godin.
- Surround yourself with people who move fast, experiment, build things, and take big risks. They’re habits will be contagious!
- Get a mentor who has accomplished what you want in life. They’ll have the most reliable wisdom to help you achieve goals and expand your vision.
What Is a Self-Starter?
A self-starter operates with the same energy Dana White always talks about. They’re the “animal” who loves the grind and doesn’t wait for someone else to light the fire.
Usually, this concept refers specifically to being a self-starter in the workplace. And though you can definitely be a self-starter in your career, it shouldn’t stop there. High achievers take control of all aspects of their lives.
More specifically, a self-starter is someone who . . .
- Doesn’t wait for permission
- Creates their own opportunities
- Thrives under pressure and creates more of it
- Does what they say they’ll do without negotiation
- Shows up consistently, even when it sucks
- Responds with action, not excuses
How to Be a Self-Starter Using Dana White’s Approach
Stop asking for permission.
If we learned anything from the interview with Dana White, it’s that it’s better to act than to wait for approval or permission. If you believe your next move is the right one, then take it. The people around you will learn to trust you through your results, and it won’t be long before you stand out as someone who takes initiative and creates opportunities.
Even better, you’ll build confidence in yourself. When you watch yourself make the right choices again and again, the self-doubt fades. Plus, those around you will have enough doubt to go around—stay focused and confident, act first, and ignore the naysayers. Adopt that mindset and watch your goals come to life.
Develop relentless consistency.
Dana says that to be successful, you have to love the grind and show up for yourself every single day. Patterns of consistency create the momentum and motivation you need to become unstoppable. And he doesn’t just mean in your career. He tells new entrepreneurs to build strong routines and discipline across every part of their lives, including their health, relationships, and daily life.
It starts with identifying areas where you’re weak or slipping, and then building the habits that create real change. This makes you a stronger and more capable person in the long-term. It also proves—to yourself and to everyone watching—that you’re someone who makes things happen. And, once you commit to leveling up in one area, it naturally pushes you to look at the rest of your life with the same intensity.
During the interview, Dana talks about his life-changing encounter with Gary Brecka. He’s the biologist and mastermind behind the Superhuman Protocol, and he inspired Dana to look at his health differently. With his guidance, Dana proved himself as a self-starter yet again by transforming his body through alternative medicine and holistic wellness.
For more routine ideas for self-starters, read our post on the best habits for successful entrepreneurs.
Solve problems instead of complaining.
Dana White hates complaining. Don’t we all? He sees it as a huge waste of time. He reminds entrepreneurs that no one is coming to save you and that problems are simply part of any venture. If you want to be a self-starter, drop the excuses, take ownership, and sharpen your problem-solving skills.
Momentum happens when you solve problems instead of sitting in them. Action builds speed, confidence, and clarity. Once you get good at making quick decisions and adapting, you gain an edge most people never develop.
Lean into pressure rather than avoid it.
Dana says pressure is his oxygen. Even though we’re hard-wired to run from discomfort, he encourages listeners to seek out challenges instead. To be successful, you have to stay focused when everything around you feels chaotic. If you can take the pressure and use it as a launching pad, it proves you’re built for success.
So if you want to be a self-starter? Lean into pressure, take the proactive approach, and do the hardest things first. Accept responsibilities that stretch your capabilities. Embrace mistakes. Ask for feedback early. And practice discomfort.
What does that mean? Do things you don’t want to do—have difficult conversations, show up for early morning workouts, hold your boundaries, or even take a cold plunge. These uncomfortable moments are what help you grow and build real professional development.
Want even more on this? After you listen to the interview with Dana White, jump into the episode titled Jennifer Fisher: On How to Become Unstoppable, Step Into Your Power, Overcome Setbacks, & Redefine Success.
Act decisively and follow through.
Hesitation slows you down. Dana says you gain a massive competitive advantage by being the person who executes the fastest. He also notes that his word means everything. If he says he’s going to do something, it’s as good as done. Self-starters should treat their commitments the same way. When something becomes non-negotiable, you instantly stand out from other team members and everyone else around you.
To build this skill, start by giving yourself tight deadlines and making decisions with the information you already have. Take the next step immediately—send the email, make the call, start the task—before you talk yourself out of it. Then follow through completely. Treat every commitment like a contract, and don’t move on until it’s done. The more you practice quick action and clean completion, the more natural decisive execution becomes.
Trust your gut.
One of the biggest things that’s allowed Dana White to be such a successful self-starter is his ability to trust his gut. He says your internal reaction is usually right, and he believes most people should lean into that feeling. Overthinking slows you down and makes you miss opportunities, so trust what you already know is true.
To put this self-starter skill into practice, start by paying attention to your very first reaction. An immediate “yes” or “no” should be taken seriously. You can think about it a little, but try to limit how long you sit with it. Then, after the decision is made, reflect on whether your gut was right. If it consistently is, let that shape the way you make decisions moving forward.
To see a pro in action, listen to Dana White talk about how he used his gut instincts to grow UFC and Power Slap.
Being a self-starter like Dane White means trusting yourself, moving fast, and making things happen.
There’s never been a better time to be a self-starter. Dana tells aspiring entrepreneurs in the episode that every industry is ripe for disruption. Consumers are ready for the next big thing and are more open than ever to fresh ideas, bold moves, and people who are willing to take risks. So trust your instincts, lean into the grind, and start building the life or business you’ve been putting off. The opportunity is there—but you’re the one who has to move first.
If you want more inspiration, listen to these episodes of the Him & Her Show next:
- Donald Miller on How to Communicate Effectively, Why Brands Fail, & Secrets to Marketing Anything
- 5 Career & Business Mistakes to Avoid in Life & What We Wish We Knew Earlier
- Evolving Like a CEO: Jason Feifer on Leadership, Growth, Boundaries for Success, & Building a Life that Scales