Perseverance Principles

Built under pressure. Rooted in faith. Forged by fire.

In Perseverance Principles, JJ Mazzo reveals a childhood marked by trauma, chaos, and instability… and the hard-won strategies that turned him into a disciplined, faith-driven leader. His gritty story is about a man who persevered to build confidence, consistency, and wealth when the odds were against him.

This is an intensely personal and revealing game plan for self-leadership, teaching you how to overcome adversity to produce significant changes in your life. JJ shares difficult truths and the mindset, processes, and a personal code that helped him find peace and success.

You'll discover how to:

• Build a foundation that doesn't crack under pressure
• Trade ego for execution and show up with real confidence
• Navigate adversity with clarity, consistency, and composure
• Stop chasing results and start producing them
• Apply discipline that outlasts your emotions
• Make peace with your past while building for the future

Whether you're leading a company, a team, or just trying to lead yourself, Perseverance Principles gives you essential strategies to rise with strength, lead with integrity, and persevere when it matters most.

Foreword xi

The Why: Blasting Through Your Barriers 1

Hard Lessons 7

Dreams and Downward Spirals 9

Driven by Denial, Survival, and Anger 14

A Common Bond 18

PRINCIPLE 1 Fighting Through Your Discomfort Zone 21

Why You’re Uncomfortable 24

Hostage Negotiations with Your Ego 26

Dana White and the Battle for Octagon Supremacy 29

The Tale of the Two Implode- O-Meters 31

My Process for Recovering from a Setback 38

PRINCIPLE 2 Developing Self-Leadership 41

The Balance of Accountability 43

Where Self-Leadership Starts 45

The Challenge of Letting Go 47

Ten Self-Leadership Questions to Ask Yourself 51

The Activity Tracker 53

What Are Your Elements of Self-Leadership? 55

PRINCIPLE 3 Putting Plans into Practice 65

Create Success Habits and Routines 66

Transform Routines into Revenue 70

The Open House Strategies 72

Refine Your Resilience Roadmap 74

PRINCIPLE 4 Tapping into a Support System 79

Iron Sharpens Iron 82

The Breakthrough 83

Your Mentorship Matrix 87

How Brian Chesky Designed the Ultimate Bed-and- Breakfast Business 90

Building Your Personal Board of Directors 93

PRINCIPLE 5 Stacking Consistent Wins 101

The Magic of Good Habits 104

Elements of Consistency 107

Stay on Track 115

The Edison Approach 117

PRINCIPLE 6 Creating Financial Security 121

Two Important Questions 125

An Emotional vs. a Tactical Relationship with Money 130

The Power of Budgeting and Compounding 132

What Billionaires Can Teach You About Accumulating Wealth 137

PRINCIPLE 7 Building the Road to Your Legacy 143

The Story of General William Lyon 144

The Building Blocks of Your Legacy 147

Change Takes Time, But 153

Perseverance as a Way of Life 157

Acknowledgments 161

About the Author 165

Index 167

JJ MAZZO is an Executive Vice President at CrossCountry Mortgage, founder of The Mazzo Group, and a co-founder of Impact Elite Coaching. He is also a top 1% loan originator in the U.S., and a generous sponsor of Children’s Hospital of Orange, Orange County Rescue Mission, Giveback Homes and board member of FirstHome IQ.

JJ Mazzo’s early life was marked by trauma, chaos, and instability. But he overcame that difficult beginning to build confidence, consistency, and wealth against incredible odds.

In Perseverance Principles, JJ, a highly successful business leader and philanthropist, delivers a personal and revealing game plan for self-leadership. Drawing on the mindsets, standards, and a personal code that helped him achieve greater peace of mind and prosperity in his life, he teaches you how to use perseverance to overcome adversity and incorporate significant changes in your own.

This book pulls no punches as JJ shares potent and pointed ways for you to find spiritual tranquility and success. You’ll learn to build a personal and professional foundation that doesn’t crack under pressure and how to forego your ego in favor of confident execution, especially when the going gets tough. You’ll also discover how to navigate difficult challenges with clarity, consistency, and composure as you stop using inefficient techniques and start producing life changing results.

Perseverance Principles walks you through how to apply discipline that outlasts temporary situations to help you build a more fruitful and fulfilling future. It details the hands-on strategies JJ applied to his life to become a purposeful, faith-driven leader, calling upon the character necessary to endure everything that life has thrown his way.

Perfect for anyone leading a company, a team, or simply those who are ready to accomplish more in their own lives, Perseverance Principles offers a clear and concise game plan that teaches you how to rise with strength and lead with integrity, incorporating perseverance principles to reach your full potential.

PRAISE FOR PERSEVERANCE PRINCIPLES

“JJ Mazzo embodies what it means to persevere, not only will Perseverance Principles inspire YOU by JJ’s story, but you will be moved with actionable takeaways to help you think differently on your path to success in life. I have always had a fundamental belief that our greatest strength is developed through challenge and adversity. JJ Mazzo is proof of that. And his book will change YOUR life.”
—BEN NEWMAN, USA Today TOP 5 Mindset and Performance Coach, and 2x Wall Street Journal Bestseller

“Perseverance is a necessary part of any success journey. JJ is someone you can learn from because he’s overcome a lot and has developed a practical system that anyone can follow to turn their pain into purpose. If you’re tired of excuses and ready for results, this is your playbook.”
—RORY VADEN, New York Times Bestselling Author of Take the Stairs and Co-Founder of Brand Builders Group

“Raw, unflinching, and transformative. JJ doesn’t just talk about perseverance—he’s lived it in the trenches where most would surrender.”
—RENE RODRIGUEZ, Neuroscience-Backed Leadership Expert and Bestselling Author of Amplify Your Influence

“In Perseverance Principles, JJ Mazzo delivers the exact kind of practical, no-excuse mindset training I’ve seen separate champions from contenders. This book is a masterclass in mental toughness, clarity, and consistent execution. Whether you’re leading a business, a team, or yourself—JJ’s principles will elevate your performance and sharpen your focus. A must-read for anyone serious about becoming their best.”
—DR. JASON SELK, Director of Sport Psychology, Top Mental Performance Coach, and Author of Relentless Solution Focus

“JJ Mazzo packs a punch of grit and genius. From bankruptcy to an 8-figure mortgage empire, JJ’s raw strategies spark action and inspire triumph. It’s hard to learn from experiences you’re not having, which is why I love this book—a must-read for crushing it in business and life!”
—TOM FERRY, Founder and CEO of Ferry International, Bestselling Author, and Leading Voice in Real Estate Coaching