Looking for Dr. Julie Gurner quotes to level up your performance? You’ve found the most comprehensive collection of insights from one of the world’s most sought-after executive coaches. Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or ambitious professional, these quotes on tenacity, audacity, and peak performance will transform how you approach success.
Dr. Julie Gurner has spent over 14 years coaching top-percentile executives, CEOs, founders, and athletes in tech and finance. With a 2-year waiting list and $8,000/month coaching fees, her wisdom is highly coveted. This complete collection brings you her most powerful insights on audacity, tenacity, standards, mindset, and what it really takes to reach the top 0.01%.
ON AUDACITY & BOLDNESS
- People love an audacious person. The person who somehow finds their way into rooms they “have no business being in,” who somehow wins the contract no one thought possible, the person who always finds a way
- There is no reason I should even be sitting here. The life I have is ridiculous, but what I’ve been able to do for myself and my family is just because I dared to try. Maybe I was naive, I don’t know, but I’m glad I pulled it off
- The world responds when you put yourself out there. When you give it a real shot for the thing you want—not only in small steps—but in big, bold, smart moves that take a bit of chutzpah
- Something that the highest levels all have in common? Almost all of them were seen as “unreasonable” by someone, if not many people, along the way
- Give yourself a taste, and you’ll start to see things others don’t – new potentials, new worlds, new opportunities, and realize that being unreasonable is how you really start to shape the world
- Being unreasonable means forging a path distinct from the conventional one. It’s about envisioning a reality that aligns with your values and having the tenacity and resourcefulness to make it happen, even if it sets you apart from the pack
ON TENACITY VS PERSISTENCE
- People often confuse persistence with tenacity. While persistence will have you doggedly pushing toward the goal…tenacity will have you pushing and, often, adapting. Adjusting to continue to win
- Persistent people stick to the plan to get to the goal. Tenacious people may change their plan altogether
- Persistence is natural for a lot of ambitious people — to have a singular goal and push — but often when persistent people meet up against obstacles, they either keep pushing…or drop out, get discouraged, or run up against a barrier that is just insurmountable
- Tenacious people will find the side door, go around the wall, see the cracks, or just find another path altogether so they can get it done
- Persistent people can be stubborn (in a good way), but they can also break when obstacles get too rough. On the flip side? Tenacious people are all-in but adaptable. They can flex, and they use it to their advantage
- People can spend their lives being the hardest worker in the room, going nowhere, and they’re not always sure where things have gone wrong. At the end of the day, there is a nuance between persistence and tenacity, and that nuance will be the difference between staying the same and break-out runs in your work and life
- Persisting at something that isn’t working is a waste of energy. To glorify persistence is to disconnect effort from results
- A persistent person may be an unstoppable force, but eventually, they will meet an immovable object. A tenacious person is going to bypass the immovable object altogether
ON STANDARDS & EXPECTATIONS
- Without setting a bar, you will be strapped with frustration – always staying smaller than you are capable of – and life will often have more agitation
- Downward comparison is kind of that death nail of mediocrity. You’ll kind of stay where you’re at because you’re always going to be better than somebody else
ON BEING NICE VS BEING GOOD
- I’ll say this upfront: the world will want you to be “nice,” and others will benefit if you are. In fact, your “niceness” will benefit almost everyone but you
- People think that if they’re not being nice, they are being mean (but there’s a difference between nice and good)
ON FACING CHALLENGES
- What we run from, pursues us. What we face, transforms us
- Don’t be a runner, an avoider. Be the person who faces the hard things head on. Allow yourself to transform your life
ON MINDSET & BELIEFS
- Mindset is really the ultimate performance lever because you have to be the person that thinks that they can learn it that has a self-belief
- I want them to rewrite that narrative to survivorship and overcoming and what it took and you ask the right questions to get them to see their own throughway
- In the face of failure, successful people have a solver mindset. There’s a way of like I can figure this out. Like I didn’t get it this time but I can figure it out
- You probably have the ability, but you’re not understanding your own story
ON MOMENTUM & ACTION
- The thing that every top operator knows is this…the door that will really push momentum is the one that is likely out of your vision right now
- Momentum won’t come if we just sit back and wait. Momentum comes from taking action
- The wind at your back doesn’t always come from the first move. It’s the subsequent doors that open after the first move, the opportunities you seize, the unexpected routes you take
ON COACHING & FEEDBACK
- Caring deeply, challenging directly (core coaching philosophy)
- People can take hard feedback from people that they know are in their corner
- I try to frame things always as opportunities, challenges, ways in which people can level up or improve in some fashion
ON ADVICE & WISDOM
- “It’ll all work out!” While true—things will work out—this advice precludes any forethought or action to get a tough situation to the best outcome. Instead, one is stuck with whatever the outcome may be, rather than creating or influencing it
- I don’t think there’s ever been a single ‘worst’ advice. Advice is broad and plentiful; however, it’s important to understand the context of the person sharing. What previously worked for them may not work for you
- You either have natural, innate leadership abilities, or you do not. There is no in-between (advice she had to unlearn—most people can develop leadership)
ON RELATIONSHIPS & PARTNERSHIP
- Ambitious people have two options: 1. Marry a supportive partner, who knows and understands exactly what they’re signing up for. 2. Do not get married
- The person you spend your life with is one of the most important decisions of your life. This person is going to determine not only a lot of your personal happiness, but they’re going to determine a lot of your fiscal success
ON FAILURE & SOCIAL VALIDATION
- Most people will fear failure not because it’s failure, but because of other people seeing them fail
- Social validation is not the goal
ON RESOURCEFULNESS
- Paul Graham defines being relentlessly resourceful as a trait in the people who go on to do great things. I see it all the time
ON SELF-AWARENESS
- Be humble, especially in the age of social media
- It’s important to keep taking chances
ON SUCCESS PHILOSOPHY
- Be willing to do the hard work. In terms of newsletters, social media is a big growth lever. You can opt out for sure. But you need to accept that it will probably grow a little slower than you would have if you spent the time to get social working for you
About Dr. Julie Gurner: Elite Performance Coach for CEOs and Executives
Dr. Julie Gurner is a Doctor of Psychology and nationally recognized executive performance coach who has dedicated over 14 years to working with top-percentile executives, CEOs, founders, athletes, and high-performing teams, primarily in the tech and finance sectors. Her coaching focuses on achieving world-class performance in fast-paced, high-pressure, extremely competitive environments.
Recognition and Impact
- Compared to Wendy Rhoades from the hit show “Billions” by The Wall Street Journal (2019)
- Named a “Game Changer” by IBM
- Author of the Ultra Successful newsletter with over 40,000 subscribers
- Maintains a 2-year waiting list for one-on-one coaching at $8,000/month
- Known for her signature “caring deeply, challenging directly” coaching philosophy
Why Dr. Julie Gurner’s Advice Matters
Dr. Gurner’s coaching philosophy centers on tenacity over mere persistence, audacity over playing it safe, and setting high standards over accepting mediocrity. Her clients include some of the most successful operators in tech and finance who credit her with helping them break through performance plateaus and reach the top 0.01% of their fields.
Her approach combines deep psychological expertise with real-world business acumen, making her insights immediately actionable for ambitious professionals who refuse to settle for average results.
Key Takeaways from Dr. Julie Gurner’s Wisdom
1. Develop Tenacity, Not Just Persistence: While persistent people stick stubbornly to one plan, tenacious people adapt, find side doors, and always discover a way forward. This flexibility combined with determination is what separates breakthrough performers from those who burn out.
2. Embrace Audacity: The world rewards bold moves. Getting into rooms you “have no business being in” and winning contracts others think impossible requires audacity—the willingness to be seen as unreasonable by conventional standards.
3. Set Higher Standards: Downward comparison breeds mediocrity. Without setting a high bar, you’ll stay smaller than your capabilities and experience constant frustration.
4. Face Challenges Head-On: What you run from pursues you. What you face transforms you. Avoid being an avoider—become someone who confronts hard things directly.
5. Develop a Solver Mindset: In the face of failure, top performers believe they can figure it out. They may not have the answer yet, but they trust their ability to find solutions.
6. Choose Your Partner Wisely: For ambitious people, your life partner significantly impacts both personal happiness and fiscal success. Choose someone who understands and supports what they’re signing up for.
7. Care Deeply, Challenge Directly: People can take hard feedback from those they know are in their corner. This balance of support and challenge drives real growth.
How to Apply Dr. Julie Gurner’s Insights to Your Life
For Entrepreneurs and Founders
Apply her audacity principles when pitching investors, pursuing partnerships, or entering new markets. Remember that being “unreasonable” often means being right before others see it. Develop tenacity by staying committed to your vision while remaining flexible about the path to get there.
For Executives and Leaders
Use her coaching philosophy of “caring deeply, challenging directly” with your teams. Set higher standards while providing the support needed to reach them. Frame feedback as opportunities for growth rather than criticism.
For High Performers in Any Field
Adopt the solver mindset when facing obstacles. Instead of persisting down a path that isn’t working, look for side doors, alternative routes, and creative solutions. Remember that the door that creates real momentum might be outside your current vision.
For Personal Development
Stop comparing yourself downward to feel better temporarily. Face the challenges you’ve been avoiding—transformation comes from confrontation, not avoidance. Rewrite your narrative from one of struggle to one of survivorship and overcoming.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Julie Gurner
Who is Dr. Julie Gurner?
Dr. Julie Gurner is a psychologist and elite executive performance coach who works with top CEOs, founders, and executives primarily in tech and finance. She’s known for her Ultra Successful newsletter and her “caring deeply, challenging directly” coaching approach.
How much does Dr. Julie Gurner charge for coaching?
Dr. Gurner charges $8,000 per month for one-on-one coaching and maintains a 2-year waiting list, reflecting the high demand for her services among top performers.
What is the difference between persistence and tenacity according to Dr. Gurner?
According to Dr. Gurner, persistent people stick stubbornly to one plan, while tenacious people adapt their approach to overcome obstacles. Tenacious people find side doors, go around walls, and change tactics while remaining committed to the goal.
What does Dr. Gurner mean by audacity?
Audacity, in Dr. Gurner’s framework, means making bold moves that others might consider unreasonable—getting into rooms you “shouldn’t” be in, pursuing opportunities others think impossible, and being willing to stand out from the pack.
Where can I follow Dr. Julie Gurner?
You can subscribe to her Ultra Successful newsletter on Substack and follow her insights on executive performance, tenacity, and what it takes to reach the top 0.01%.
Final Thoughts: Implementing Dr. Gurner’s Wisdom
Dr. Julie Gurner’s quotes reveal a consistent philosophy: success at the highest levels requires more than hard work—it demands audacity, tenacity, high standards, and the courage to face challenges directly. Her insights cut through motivational fluff to deliver actionable wisdom based on years of working with the world’s top performers.
The common thread through all her teaching is this: most people play too small, persist at the wrong things, and avoid the very challenges that would transform them. If you want different results, you need to be different—not just in your actions, but in your willingness to be unreasonable, tenacious, and bold.
Start by identifying one area where you’ve been merely persistent when you need to be tenacious. Where could you adapt your approach? What side door have you been ignoring? What bold move have you been avoiding because it seems “unreasonable”?
Remember Dr. Gurner’s core insight: the world responds when you put yourself out there with big, bold, smart moves that take real courage. The top 0.01% didn’t get there by playing it safe—they got there by developing audacity, tenacity, and the willingness to do what others won’t.
Your move.
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