Mark Wahlberg’s Secret to Success

We all love to hear a good secret. Especially when those secrets come from successful people. Secrets let us have a little sneak peak into their lives. Secrets have the potential to reveal a piece of knowledge that may explain how this person achieved their success.

In this article we’re answering the question “What is Mark Wahlberg’s secret to success?” Or rather his secrets to success because it turns out there isn’t just one thing that he did to get to where he’s at today.

Don’t dwell on your mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. The difference between those who achieve success and those who don’t is how they handle their mistakes. Mark Wahlberg’s early life is the perfect example of this.

At the age of 14, Wahlberg dropped out of school to start making his living on the tough streets of Boston. He got involved with stealing and selling drugs, and a fight that went too far put him behind bars for 45 days. While many people might consider getting thrown in jail as hitting rock bottom, Wahlberg calls this experience a turning point in his life. In an interview he described his “self-talk” at that time as, “If I want anything else out of this life, I’ve got to start now.”

He used his time in jail to reflect on his life and pray, and ultimately decided that he would devote himself to becoming a better man. He recognized that he had made mistakes, but he didn’t dwell on them. Instead, he vowed to give himself some direction in life through praying, training, and devoting more time to his family.

Be disciplined

Much of Mark Wahlberg’s success has been shaped by discipline. He says, “Between my physical fitness and my faith I have so much discipline in my life, and I have such a positive outlook on life and the opportunities that I have.” (Source)

It’s easy to see that discipline with his fitness and diet has helped Wahlberg to maintain his famously well-defined body throughout his career. So what does discipline mean to Mark Wahlberg? He shares with Ellen Degeneres on the Ellen Show that his morning routine includes waking up at 3:00 AM to have a healthy breakfast (i.e. egg whites, Ezekiel bread, almond butter with a little avocado) followed by an hour-long workout and, of course, a post-workout protein shake.

In addition to being disciplined with his diet and workouts, Wahlberg is also a man that is dedicated to his faith. During an interview with Gabrielle Donnelly of the Catholic Herald, Wahlberg said, “Being a Catholic is the most important aspect of my life. The first thing I do when I start my day is, I get down on my hands and knees and give thanks to God.”

While Mark Wahlberg openly shares that his discipline with his faith is an important part of his life and has contributed to his success, he isn’t referring to success within his career. Rather, he understands the bigger picture: “I want to serve God and to be a good human being and to make up for the mistakes I made and the pain I put people through. That’s what I’m praying for, and I recommend it to anybody.” (Catholic Herald)

Following disciplined routines with his faith, fitness, and diet gives Wahlberg the feeling that there isn’t anything he can’t accomplish.

Don’t shy away from a challenge

Looking at Mark Wahlberg’s repertoire of roles, from a foul-mouthed detective in The Departed to a Navy SEAL in Lone Survivor to a college professor in The Gambler, it’s clear that this man doesn’t shy away from a challenge. Even in the early days of his career, Wahlberg said, “I’ve always wanted to be able to do it all.”

Wahlberg shares that his role as Jim Bennett, a Los Angeles literature professor, was “a bit of a stretch” but something that he was excited to take on. He continues, “I’m never one that shies away from a challenge, I usually jump at the opportunity to do something different and unexpected.”

Taking on challenges is Wahlberg’s secret to success in the variety of films he has performed in, but with that he also ensures that he is fully prepared for each role. For example, in his role as a bodybuilder in the movie Pain and Gain, Wahlberg had to pack on 40 pounds of muscle in order to portray his character. Adding on 40 pounds while still having a lean, toned physique is no easy feat. But Wahlberg took on the challenge, knowing that his already strict discipline with his fitness routine and diet would help him to prepare for this role.

Choose your priorities wisely

You may think that Mark Wahlberg’s secret to success is his focus on fame and fortune, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. While Wahlberg has always worked hard to build his career from the ground up, his family is his priority.

As a devoted husband and father of four, Wahlberg proudly shares that family always comes first. This is part of the explanation behind his early morning workouts: “When I’m back home I’m in the gym at 4:30am, when it’s still dark out and the kids haven’t woken up yet. Then I get the kids up, get them off to school and get my day started.” (Source)

Wahlberg even sacrificed watching his beloved Patriots play during Super Bowl LI because his youngest son wasn’t feeling well. He shared a photo of his family sporting Patriots attire on Instagram stating, “Trust me, I would have loved to be at the stadium – but family first.”

Wahlberg’s Instagram also frequently features selfies of him and his wife, Rhea, going to see a movie, after attending a church service, or simply driving in the car. Despite his busy schedule, it’s clear that Wahlberg always makes time for his family. He says, “Family, faith, and being a good person are the be all and end all. If I succeed at business and I fail at being a good father then it was all for nothing.” (Source)

Overall, Mark Wahlberg’s secret to success is simple: learn from your mistakes, be disciplined, be prepared to take on new challenges, and choose your priorities wisely. With hard work and faith, anyone can follow Mark Wahlberg’s secret to success.