There are people who speak on stages, and then there are people who ignite them. Forbes Riley is the latter.
When I first saw Forbes speak at the 10X Growth Conference in Las Vegas back in 2018, I was captivated. Amidst a sea of highly accomplished male entrepreneurs, she stood tall as one of the few women on that massive stage—and she owned it. Charisma, command, clarity—she brought it all. Seeing her again recently at the Fearless and Free Women’s Summit, where my good friend Dr. Carlos Garcia also spoke, reminded me just how transformational her presence can be. (Dr. Garcia, by the way, dropped his own truth bomb: “Fear is bullshit.” And it turns out Forbes agrees.)
Here’s the thing about Forbes: she doesn’t just talk about success. She embodies resilience, reinvention, and relentless pursuit. With over $2.5 billion in product sales, 47,000 students trained, and a life that’s seen more pivots than a Broadway choreographer, Forbes Riley doesn’t just inspire—she instructs.
Below are the most powerful lessons I walked away with from her talk—and I hope they hit you as hard as they hit me.
Stop Fighting for Your Mediocrity
“For most of you,” she said, “you’ll fight for your mediocrity—and achieve it.” That line stung. Because it’s true. We often play small out of habit, out of fear, out of some internal script that says, “This is all I’m allowed to have.”
But what if you dropped that story? What if you granted yourself permission to want more—and to go get it?
Every Conversation Is a Pitch
Forbes redefined pitching for me: It’s not just about selling a product—it’s about enrolling someone in your vision, your value, your vibe. Every conversation is an opportunity to connect and invite someone in. And yes, that includes first dates, job interviews, and meeting new friends. “Will you marry me?” she reminded us, “is the ultimate pitch.”
Yes is Powerful. And Contagious.
Forbes taught us the “Yes Game.” Three yeses lead to a credit card. And three more? A vacation. But beneath the humor was this insight: Yes is a muscle. Ask better questions, get better yeses. You can’t get what you don’t ask for, and most people are walking around too afraid to ask.
You Are Not Your Baggage—Stop Paying for It
From emotional trauma to outdated beliefs, we carry too much. “Baggage is bullshit,” she said. “And if airlines are charging for it, maybe we should too.” That metaphor stuck with me. We get to choose what we lug forward—and what we leave behind.
Build the Illusion to Achieve the Dream
Some call it “fake it till you make it,” but Forbes reframed it more elegantly: Build the illusion until it becomes your reality. It’s not about being inauthentic—it’s about showing up as the version of yourself who has already won, even while you’re still becoming her.
Legacy > Ego
After decades behind the scenes of billion-dollar product launches and infomercials, Forbes realized her ego had kept her in the shadows. “It was never about me,” she admitted. But when her daughter—who built Forbes a million-dollar online course business by age 17—said, “If you don’t teach it, you’ll die with it,” she shifted. Now her legacy is rooted in impact, not just income.
You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Powerful
PowerPoint failed. Her clicker died. Her phone rang on stage. And guess what? Forbes didn’t miss a beat. She used the chaos. She taught through it. That, to me, was one of the biggest lessons: It’s not about controlling every variable. It’s about how you respond when things go sideways.
Speak Like Every Word Matters—Because It Does
The words we use shape our outcomes. Forbes listed the vocabulary we need to cut immediately:
- Actually.
- Basically.
- Like.
- You know?
- I don’t know.
- I’m trying.
These fillers dilute our message and confidence. “Trying” implies failure. “I don’t know” signals uncertainty. Clean them out. Speak powerfully. Speak purposefully.
Be Excited or Be Quiet
This one made me laugh, but it’s true: if you’re not excited about what you do, why should anyone else be? “Well, I just started this little thing, I’m kind of doing this side hustle…” Stop. Own it. Be in love with your work. Let your energy infect the room.
Love Your Inner Voice—She Works Overtime
Forbes walked us through an emotional, almost spiritual moment of acknowledging the voice inside—the part of us that regulates our heartbeat, sweats when we’re nervous, and has kept us alive through trauma. She made us pause and thank her. Say “I love you” to her. That internal relationship is everything. If you wouldn’t talk to a child the way you talk to yourself, change your tone.
Final Thoughts: Jump Anyway
At the end of her talk, Forbes had us hold up our phones with flashlights on—each light symbolizing a dream not yet fulfilled. Then she had us scream “JUMP!” at the top of our lungs. Why?
Because fear can’t live in the same space as full-blown action.
I left that summit with goosebumps and grit. Not just motivated, but mobilized. Forbes Riley reminded me that success is not about waiting until you’re “ready.” It’s about saying yes, pitching with power, letting go of your baggage, and jumping anyway.
So I’ll ask you now what she asked us that day:
What are you waiting for?
Say yes. Then jump.
