Don Tocco is an author, inspirational speaker, and founder of D.L. Tocco & Associates, a marketing company based in Troy, Michigan that helps develop business for industrial construction companies. Courtesy | Megan Li
The greatest powers of the human being are to think and to choose, businessman Don Tocco told an audience of students in his April 16 lecture, “The Golden Age of America: What is Your Role?”.
Tocco is an author, inspirational speaker, and founder of D.L. Tocco & Associates, a marketing company based in Troy, Michigan that helps develop business for industrial construction companies.
Tocco said he wanted to challenge the students, encourage them to think for themselves, and provide them with a time-tested strategy for success. He discussed his motto, the Greek word “arete,” which means “becoming your best self.”
Tocco said choices and thoughts are what shape each person’s life trajectory and balance in all things is required to pursue one’s passions.
“You can have it all in life, but you can’t have it all at exactly the same time,” Tocco said.
Tocco listed the first of his keys to success as “have a burning desire that says, ‘I want to, I can, and I will.’” It was the power of self-talk that aided Tocco when he was $40,000 in debt at 22 years old.
The second key to success is to set specific goals, according to Tocco. He cited a Harvard University study that concluded students with goals earned ten times more than their peers without goals.
“How much is goal setting worth to you? An absolute fortune,” Tocco said.
The third key to success, he said, is having faith in oneself and faith in God. Tocco learned this from world-class baseball player Hank Aaron’s discussion of his faith’s positive influence on his career.
The fourth step is to have a heart of determination.
“It’s our persistence level, our willingness to keep on above all obstacles,” Tocco said. “Always understand the word ‘no’ simply means the person saying no doesn’t understand.”
Tocco quoted Aristotle’s saying that excellence is not an act, but a habit that forms a human being through actions.
“How incredible is that God has given us these abilities to do this, to have that kind of destiny,” Tocco said. “Your potential is so remarkably unlimited.”
The fifth tool Tocco concluded with is the willingness to take courageous action.
Quoting Bernie Goldberg, the former CBS news correspondent, Tocco told the audience to “stand up and do something you consider important, even if there are consequences.”
“It’s going to need it if we’re going to sustain it for generations, so that your children, your grandchildren, will have the opportunities that you and I have today,” Tocco said. “Just once, do something amazing.”
Senior Jude Doer introduced Tocco and said Tocco launched the Tocco Challenge in 2002, an athletic competition between him and Hillsdale students, and gave $25,000 in scholarship money to student clubs and organizations when Hillsdale athletes won.
“Understanding our purpose and our challenge led him to create a personal and financial outreach to Hillsdale,” Doer said. “I have benefited greatly from listening to his insights, learning valuable networking and communication skills.”
Junior Maria Fuchs said she appreciated what Tocco does to encourage and support young people.
“As a member of the women’s music fraternity here at Hillsdale, I’ve benefited especially from his generosity towards clubs and organizations on campus,” Fuchs said. “His lecture was a good reminder that we all have a purpose in our lives and a responsibility to make good use of our God-given gifts.”
