Why It Has to Cost You: The Hidden Principle Behind Every Meaningful Success
TW3 Podcast Episode 684In this episode of the TW3 Podcast, Terry Wilson talks about one of the most important lessons learned after nearly 20 years of coaching entrepreneurs, business owners, and people pursuing meaningful goals:
People Who Pay, Pay Attention
That statement may sound simple, but it carries a powerful truth.
Over the years, I have tried to help people by giving away thousands of dollars in coaching, software, tools, time, training, and technology. Many times, I did it because I genuinely cared. I empathized with their struggle. I knew what it was like to need help. I have been the beneficiary of God’s grace and the generosity of others.
But what I kept seeing over and over again was this:
When people had no investment, they often had no ownership.
They would start excited, but quit too soon. They would receive the tools, but not use them. They would say they wanted change, but without a cost attached to it, they rarely stayed committed long enough to see transformation happen.
The Story That Changed My Thinking
In Episode 521, I shared the story of a woman I met who was living on the streets. My heart went out to her immediately. I wanted to give her everything — coaching, software, tools, training, technology — all of it.
But I had a strong impression that I believe was from the Holy Spirit:
“If you truly want to help her, it has to cost her.”
I struggled with that. I thought, “Lord, how can I charge someone who is already in such a difficult place?”
But I obeyed that impression. I charged her. Not because I wanted her money, but because I wanted her transformation.
And something incredible happened.
She committed. She showed up. She did the work. She became a tremendous success story and a powerful testimony of what can happen when someone becomes invested in their own future.
Why Sacrifice Matters
There is a universal principle at work here:
Things of real value usually require sacrifice.
That sacrifice may be money. It may be time. It may be effort. It may be comfort. It may be pride. But anything noteworthy will cost something.
Scripture teaches this clearly. Jesus said we should count the cost before building. David refused to offer God something that cost him nothing. Paul told believers to present themselves as living sacrifices.
Even God Himself demonstrated this principle.
John 3:16 says:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”
God valued us so much that He was willing to sacrifice. Redemption is free to receive, but it was not cheap to provide.
Why Coaches and Service Providers Should Not Feel Guilty Charging
If you are a coach, consultant, pastor, trainer, service provider, or business owner, this episode is for you.
You should not feel guilty for charging for what you offer.
Charging is not always about making money. Many times, charging is about creating accountability.
When someone invests financially, they are more likely to:
Show up
Pay attention
Follow instructions
Value the process
Stay committed
Work to see their investment pay off
Behavioral research supports this. People tend to value what they have invested in. Psychologists and economists have shown that effort, ownership, commitment, and investment all influence follow-through.
In other words, the investment is not just a transaction. It becomes a forcing mechanism for commitment.
Why Dreamers Must Be Willing to Invest
This episode is also for the person who wants to achieve something meaningful.
If you want to build a business, grow your ministry, improve your health, write a book, start a podcast, learn a skill, or change your life, you need to prepare yourself for sacrifice.
Save for it. Study for it. Make room for it. Invest in it.
The discipline of preparing for an opportunity often changes you before the opportunity even arrives.
The price is not punishment. The price is preparation.
Many people say they want success, but they are unwilling to make the sacrifice success requires.
But the truth is, you will pay one way or another.
You will either pay now through discipline, investment, preparation, and sacrifice — or you will pay later through regret, frustration, missed opportunity, and delay.
The Big Question
In this episode, Terry challenges listeners to ask themselves a very important question:
What dream have I been asking God to bless that I have been unwilling to invest in?
That question may be uncomfortable, but it is necessary.
Because God is not just trying to give us success. He is shaping us into people who can steward it.
Listen to Episode 684
If you have ever struggled with charging for your services, investing in your future, or understanding why sacrifice is necessary for success, this episode will challenge and encourage you.
Listen to Episode 684 of the TW3 Podcast and discover why anything noteworthy will always require a sacrifice.
At TW3, we help entrepreneurs, business owners, coaches, and service providers build real products, create real offers, and connect with a community that challenges them to grow.
If you are ready to stop wishing and start building, we invite you to apply and learn more.
The Principles That Outlasted Every Recession, Every Technology Shift, and Every Trend
What began during the financial crisis of 2008 has survived the Great Recession, healthcare reform, dramatic shifts in digital marketing, COVID-19, and now the rise of Artificial Intelligence.
Not because we guessed what technology would come next…
But because we learned principles that never change.
“The entrepreneur who understands principles can use any tool.
The entrepreneur who only understands tools is limited to whatever happens to be popular today.”
— Terry Wilson, Episode 683
In This Anniversary Special
✔ The story behind how TW3 was born during the Great Recession
✔ Why technology has never been the foundation of our business
✔ Lessons learned surviving the Affordable Care Act, COVID, and Artificial Intelligence
✔ The surprising insight from the Book of Romans that perfectly explains business longevity
✔ Why principles always outperform platforms
✔ Looking back at memorable guests and eighteen years of podcasting
✔ An interview with Laurie Brown, winner of the TW3 Product Challenge, and creator of Lead Forge
TW3 Through the Years
Year
Milestone
2008
TW3 launches during the Great Recession.
2010–2012
Expansion into online coaching, WordPress marketing systems, and CRM technology.
2013–2016
Affordable Care Act reshapes insurance industry while TW3 expands into broader small business coaching.
2017–2019
Podcast continues to grow with entrepreneurs, authors, musicians, and business leaders joining the show.
2020
COVID accelerates digital transformation and reinforces the importance of adaptable business systems.
2023–2025
Automation, AI, and intelligent marketing systems become core parts of the TW3 platform.
2026
Episode 683 celebrates 18 years with the Product Challenge and the launch of Laurie Brown’s Lead Forge.
18 Years of TW3: The Principles That Outlasted Every Recession, Every Technology Shift, and Every Trend
Episode 683 of the TerryWilson3.com Podcast is unlike any episode we’ve ever released.
Yes, it’s an interview with Laurie Brown, winner of the recent TW3 Product Challenge and creator of Lead Forge, an innovative marketing solution designed to help small businesses improve their social media presence while monitoring how they compare to their competitors in local search.
But this episode is about something even bigger.
It’s about celebrating 18 years of TW3.
When I stop and think about that number, it’s honestly hard to believe.
Eighteen years.
Thousands of coaching sessions.
Thousands of business owners served.
Hundreds of podcast interviews.
More than 680 podcast episodes.
Countless software updates.
Entire industries transformed.
Economic recessions.
A global pandemic.
Artificial Intelligence.
And somehow… we’re still here.
Not only are we still here—we’re stronger than we’ve ever been.
People often ask me, “Terry, how has TW3 survived while so many companies have disappeared?”
The answer surprised even me.
I don’t think it has anything to do with software.
I think it has everything to do with principles.
TW3 Was Born During One of America’s Hardest Economic Seasons
When TW3 was founded in 2008, the economy wasn’t exactly encouraging entrepreneurship.
Banks were collapsing.
The housing market had imploded.
Businesses were closing.
People were losing jobs at a staggering pace.
The Great Recession wasn’t simply another economic downturn—it fundamentally changed the way many Americans viewed work, business ownership, and financial security.
For many people, it was a season of fear.
For me, it became a season of necessity.
I wasn’t trying to build some revolutionary software company.
I was trying to answer a simple question:
“How do ordinary people consistently find customers regardless of what’s happening in the economy?”
That question has never changed.
Everything else has.
The Software Changed. The Mission Never Did.
If someone discovered TW3 today, they would likely assume we’ve always been an AI-powered business platform.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The earliest versions of TW3 looked nothing like today’s platform.
We built on WordPress.
We connected third-party dialers.
We experimented with CRMs that no longer exist.
We used autoresponders that have long since disappeared.
Entire technologies have come and gone over the past eighteen years.
Meanwhile, our mission never changed.
We have always focused on helping business owners accomplish three things:
Find people who need what they offer.
Create a repeatable system to qualify those people.
Present a solution that genuinely improves someone’s life.
That’s it.
Everything else is simply the vehicle.
Markets Change. Human Nature Doesn’t.
Over the past eighteen years, I’ve watched entrepreneurs chase every shiny object imaginable.
One year everyone believed Facebook was the answer.
Then it was YouTube.
Then Instagram.
Funnels.
Chatbots.
TikTok.
Artificial Intelligence.
Every few years someone confidently announces:
“This changes everything.”
Sometimes it does.
But not in the way people think.
The tools change.
The principles rarely do.
People still buy from businesses they trust.
People still respond to businesses that solve real problems.
People still appreciate authenticity.
People still need conversations before making significant decisions.
Technology simply changes how those conversations begin.
That’s why our philosophy has remained remarkably consistent while the software around it has continually evolved.
The Affordable Care Act Changed My Industry Overnight
As many listeners know, my professional background is in the insurance industry.
When the Affordable Care Act became law, many agents found themselves trying to navigate an entirely new landscape.
Products changed.
Compensation changed.
Consumer expectations changed.
Entire business models disappeared almost overnight.
Many professionals understandably became discouraged.
Others simply left the industry.
But the core business principles remained exactly the same.
People still needed guidance.
Families still needed protection.
Business owners still needed someone they trusted.
Instead of mourning what had changed, we asked a better question:
“How do we serve people using the new tools now available?”
That single mindset has guided nearly every major decision we’ve made since.
COVID Didn’t Kill Businesses. It Exposed Them.
Then came COVID.
No one saw it coming.
Practically overnight, offices emptied.
Face-to-face appointments stopped.
Conferences disappeared.
Networking groups paused.
Entire industries were forced online.
Many businesses struggled—not because they lacked talent—but because they lacked systems.
Businesses that depended upon one way of selling suddenly found themselves with no way to sell.
Businesses built upon adaptable systems pivoted much faster.
That’s one of the reasons we’ve spent years teaching business owners to build systems rather than depend upon personalities, locations, or individual platforms.
Systems survive disruption.
People who understand principles adapt faster than people who only understand procedures.
COVID simply proved that lesson on a global scale.
Then Came Artificial Intelligence
Today, AI dominates nearly every business conversation.
Some people are excited.
Others are terrified.
Personally?
I see AI the same way I saw websites in the early 2000s, social media in the 2010s, and marketing automation in the years that followed.
It’s another incredibly powerful tool.
But it’s still only a tool.
AI doesn’t replace understanding.
It amplifies it.
If your business strategy is weak, AI helps you execute weak strategies faster.
If your systems are strong, AI helps you scale them more efficiently.
The technology isn’t the competitive advantage.
The thinking behind how you use it is.
That’s why TW3 continues to invest heavily in teaching principles first and technology second.
Technology will continue changing.
Good business thinking never goes out of style.
Continue reading below as we explore the surprising lesson from the Book of Romans that perfectly explains why TW3 has survived eighteen years—and why understanding principles will always outperform simply memorizing techniques.
The Lesson That Changed How I See Business Forever
Just a few evenings before recording this episode, I was teaching through the Book of Romans during our Bible study.
As often happens when you’re studying Scripture carefully, something clicked.
It wasn’t a new verse.
It wasn’t a new doctrine.
It was a new way of connecting something I’d believed for years but had never fully articulated.
One of the greatest gifts a pastor, teacher, or mentor can give someone isn’t simply telling them what the Bible means.
It’s teaching them how to study the Bible for themselves.
There’s a tremendous difference.
When someone only knows what another person says about Scripture, they’re forever dependent upon that teacher.
But when they learn how to read the text, observe it, compare Scripture with Scripture, understand context, and think critically, they become free.
They’re no longer borrowing someone else’s understanding.
They’re developing their own.
That realization stopped me in my tracks.
Because I suddenly realized…
That’s exactly what we’ve been doing at TW3 for eighteen years.
We’ve Never Really Been Selling Software
I know that sounds strange coming from someone whose business includes CRM software, automation, AI, websites, voice agents, lead generation systems, and business technology.
But if you look closely, the software has never actually been the product.
The software has always been the vehicle.
The real product has been understanding.
We’ve tried to teach business owners how business works instead of simply telling them which buttons to click.
Because buttons change.
Software changes.
Platforms come and go.
Principles endure.
When you understand why a business grows, you can adapt to whatever technology comes next.
The Carpenter Isn’t Great Because of His Hammer
I often think about a master carpenter.
No one hires a carpenter because he owns a certain brand of hammer.
They hire him because he knows what to build.
If his hammer breaks, he doesn’t lose his livelihood.
He buys another hammer.
The skill was never in the tool.
The skill was in the craftsman.
Business works the same way.
Too many entrepreneurs become emotionally attached to software.
One CRM.
One social media platform.
One marketing tactic.
One AI application.
But if your entire business depends upon one tool, your business becomes fragile.
If, instead, your business depends upon timeless principles, every new tool simply becomes another opportunity.
That’s why TW3 has evolved from WordPress websites and third-party dialers to today’s AI-powered ecosystem without losing its identity.
The hammer changed.
The carpenter didn’t.
The Three Things Every Business Must Master
When I look back over the last eighteen years, I can simplify everything we’ve ever taught into three ideas.
Find people who need your help.
Create a repeatable process that qualifies those people.
Offer a solution you genuinely believe improves their lives.
Every version of TW3 has been built around those three ideas.
Whether we were making phone calls from a simple WordPress site…
Building lead funnels…
Teaching social media marketing…
Creating AI assistants…
Or deploying intelligent voice agents…
The objective has remained exactly the same.
Find.
Qualify.
Serve.
Everything else is simply delivery.
Eighteen Years of Conversations That Changed Lives
One of the things I’m most grateful for over these eighteen years is the opportunity to sit down with incredible people whose stories have challenged, encouraged, and inspired our audience.
Our podcast has never been about interviewing celebrities for the sake of celebrity.
It’s been about discovering principles that listeners can immediately apply to their own businesses and lives.
As both a lifelong Chicago fan and a musician, that conversation meant a great deal to me personally. But what made the interview truly memorable wasn’t simply talking music—it was hearing Bill describe the discipline, preparation, persistence, and craftsmanship required to build a career spanning decades. Those same qualities apply whether you’re writing songs, leading a company, or serving customers every day. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
We’ve also had the privilege of sitting down with authors, coaches, entrepreneurs, educators, business leaders, and innovators from a wide variety of industries.
Each guest reinforced the same lesson:
Success leaves principles long before it leaves techniques.
The Conversation Has Continued to Evolve
One of the things I’m most proud of is that this podcast has grown right alongside the business community it serves.
In recent months we’ve explored topics such as:
Why every business should create its own unique product or service.
Why understanding why you’re succeeding matters more than simply knowing that you’re succeeding.
How building a business around your personality, passions, and strengths creates sustainable success.
Why your personal story may be your greatest marketing asset.
If you haven’t heard them yet, I encourage you to go back and listen to:
Episode 681 — Why Every Business Should Create Its Own Product or Service.
Episode 682 — It’s Not “How Are You Doing?” It’s “Why Are You Doing as Well as You Are?”
Although the subjects vary, they all point back to one foundational truth:
Business growth begins with personal growth.
People who invest in their thinking consistently outperform people who merely chase the latest trend.
The Next Generation of TW3
As we celebrate eighteen years, I don’t believe we’re reaching the finish line.
I honestly believe we’re just getting started.
Artificial Intelligence is changing how businesses communicate.
Automation is changing how businesses operate.
Digital marketing continues to evolve almost daily.
But those changes don’t intimidate me.
They excite me.
Because every advancement creates another opportunity to apply timeless business principles in fresh ways.
Our mission remains exactly what it was in 2008:
Help ordinary people build extraordinary businesses by understanding principles that never become obsolete.
Laurie Brown’s Story Is the Perfect Picture of What TW3 Has Always Been About
As we looked for a way to celebrate TW3’s eighteenth anniversary, we wanted to do more than simply look backward.
We wanted to demonstrate what the future looks like.
That’s why we challenged our Elite members to do something many business owners never attempt.
Create your own product.
Not just another service.
Not another sales pitch.
A real product that solves a real problem.
The response exceeded every expectation.
Our members created software, marketing systems, lead generation tools, educational resources, and business solutions that reflected their own experiences and passions.
But one product consistently rose to the top.
Lead Forge.
Created by Laurie Brown—known affectionately throughout our community as Miss Spelling Bee—Lead Forge embodies exactly what we’ve spent eighteen years teaching.
Laurie didn’t simply learn how to click buttons inside software.
She learned how to identify a business problem, build a repeatable solution, and package it into something that creates value for other business owners.
Lead Forge helps small businesses consistently publish social media content while giving them insight into how they compare with competitors in local online search.
In other words, it helps businesses become more visible where today’s customers are already looking.
That’s not just software.
That’s solving a problem.
And businesses that solve meaningful problems rarely struggle to find customers.
Innovation Isn’t Reserved for Silicon Valley
One of the biggest myths entrepreneurs believe is that innovation belongs to large corporations with massive research budgets.
I simply don’t believe that’s true.
Some of the best business ideas I’ve ever seen have come from ordinary people who became frustrated enough with an everyday problem to finally build a solution.
That’s exactly what happened during our Product Challenge.
Members who had never considered themselves “software developers” suddenly realized they could create tools that genuinely help people.
They discovered something important.
You don’t have to invent the next billion-dollar company.
You simply need to solve a problem better than it’s being solved today.
That’s entrepreneurship.
That’s innovation.
And that’s exactly what Laurie accomplished.
Eighteen Years Later, Our Mission Is Still the Same
If you’ve followed TW3 for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed something.
The software has changed dramatically.
Our website has changed.
Our logo has evolved.
Our training has expanded.
Artificial Intelligence has become part of our daily workflow.
Voice agents now book appointments.
Automation handles tasks that once required hours of manual effort.
But our mission?
It hasn’t changed one bit.
We still exist to help ordinary people build extraordinary businesses.
We still believe that relationships outperform transactions.
We still believe that education creates freedom.
We still believe that understanding principles is more valuable than memorizing procedures.
And perhaps most importantly…
We still believe every business owner deserves access to world-class tools, coaching, and encouragement regardless of where they’re starting.
If You’re New to TW3, Here Are a Few Episodes to Start With
If Episode 683 is your introduction to the TW3 Podcast, I’d encourage you to explore some of the conversations that have helped shape our community over the years.
Episode 636 – Who Are You?
A powerful discussion on self-awareness, leadership, and building a business that reflects your values. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Episode 665 – When You Don’t Get the Trumpet
A deeply personal reminder that life’s unexpected detours often become our greatest opportunities. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Each episode explores different subjects, but they all point toward the same timeless truth:
Success isn’t accidental.
It’s built through intentional growth, consistent learning, meaningful relationships, and the willingness to adapt while holding firmly to timeless principles.
Thank You for Eighteen Incredible Years
There are very few businesses that have the privilege of serving people for nearly two decades.
I don’t take that lightly.
Whether you’ve been with us since 2008…
Joined during the pandemic…
Found us through artificial intelligence…
Or discovered this podcast just this week…
Thank you.
Thank you for trusting us.
Thank you for believing in this mission.
Thank you for allowing me to do something I genuinely love.
For eighteen years, I’ve had the privilege of helping entrepreneurs discover something bigger than business.
Purpose.
Confidence.
Freedom.
And the realization that success isn’t reserved for a select few.
It’s available to ordinary people who consistently apply extraordinary principles.
As we celebrate this milestone, I’m more excited about the future than I’ve ever been.
Artificial Intelligence will continue evolving.
Marketing will continue changing.
New technologies will emerge.
New opportunities will appear.
And TW3 will continue doing what we’ve always done:
Helping businesses find more people.
Helping businesses build repeatable systems.
Helping businesses solve meaningful problems.
Those principles have carried us through the Great Recession.
They carried us through industry disruption.
They carried us through COVID.
They’ll carry us through the AI revolution as well.
Because principles outlive platforms.
Understanding outlasts technology.
And businesses built on solid foundations have a remarkable way of standing long after trends have faded.
Ready to Build a Business That Lasts?
If today’s episode encouraged you, we’d love to help you take the next step.
Whether you’re starting your first business, looking to automate an existing company, or wanting practical coaching to help you grow, TW3 has the tools, training, and community to help you succeed.
Explore our resources:
What Eighteen Years Have Taught Me
If I had to summarize everything I’ve learned into just a few thoughts, it would be these:
Relationships are more valuable than transactions.
Character compounds just like interest.
Customers don’t buy software—they buy confidence.
Technology should simplify people, not replace them.
The best marketing still begins with serving people well.
Your story is one of your greatest business assets.
Businesses built on principles survive trends.
Learning how to think will always outperform memorizing what to do.
The people you spend time with influence your habits, attitudes, faith, success, and even your future. Learn the fascinating scientific, psychological, and biblical reasons why choosing the right community can transform your life and business.
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The greatest undetected larceny in personal and professional lives - Episode 285
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Did you know your inspiration is under a daily attack? For many the idea of being, living, or experiencing an inspired life is so far removed from their daily reality that to suggest anything different seems foreign at best and nefarious at worst.
Today I want to share with you why it’s imperative for you to regain, maintain, and experience an inspired life.
The 6 manipulating forces I share in this episode that are used to deteriorate your sense of inspiration are:
Price
Promotion
Fear
False Aspiration
Peer Pressure
Novelty
I share from the book, “Start with Why,” by Simon Sinek. You can get a free copy of this audio book by going to terrywilson3.com/freebook.
The following is what pays for our show. Support our show by using or visiting one of these offers.
Need a professional phone system for your business? Go to terrywilson3.com/ringcentral now to try out the very service we use to manage a 3000+ call center. Their service works and is so affordable. You can try them out with our link for 30 days free.
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Want to put your money on auto-pilot through email marketing? See how TW3 reps and thousands of others are able to reach millions of people daily automatically with email marketing. Go to terrywilson3.com/mdems
Need to start earning what you are worth and need a legitimate business opportunity? See how you can earn on your terms by working with TW3. Go to terrywilson3.com/apply today to see how our reps earn a great income, never have to cold call, and have fun too!
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The marketing lesson from President Trump's address to congress - Episode 225
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This is not a political observation nor a criticism or endorsement. In this episode I show how a moment in the congressional address illustrates a very powerful lesson to understand in marketing, communicating, and influencing others.
