When Patrick Bet-David wrote Your Next Five Moves, he wasn’t only thinking about business strategy, he was thinking about survival.
As a kid who fled war-torn Iran, grew up in a rough L.A. neighborhood, and later joined the U.S. military, he learned that thinking ahead could literally save your life. That same mindset is what helped him build a media company worth millions.
Today, he teaches you how to apply that same clarity to your business journey.
Feeling stuck because you don’t know what to build yet? Or overwhelmed because you’ve got an idea but no time? This book helps you figure that out. It’s not hype. It’s not fluff.
It’s five clear moves to help you stop winging it and start building something real.
“He who knows himself can’t be defeated,” he says. And that’s where your next five moves begin—by getting brutally honest about what you really want. Let’s break it down.
Table of Contents
Summary of Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-David
“Know yourself. If you don’t, someone else will decide for you.”
Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-David is a business strategy book that teaches you how to think like a chess master in life and business. If you’re trying to start an online business or side hustle and feel stuck, this book helps you make sense of what to do next.
He breaks the journey into five clear moves.
- First, know exactly what you want. He says you can’t scale anything until you’re honest about who you want to be.
- Second, improve how you solve problems. He shows how most issues in business come from ignoring the real problem. You’ll learn how to ask better questions and take full responsibility.
- Third, build a strong team. He explains how to attract and keep the right people by being transparent and giving them real stakes.
- Fourth, scale through systems and momentum. If you want to grow, you need to stop doing everything yourself. You’ll learn to track the right numbers and remove steps that waste time.
- Fifth, make power moves. He teaches you how to own your story, stop distractions, and use leverage to create better outcomes.
The book isn’t just for CEOs. It’s for you if you’re figuring out how to build a business and balance life. Every move gives you clarity, so you don’t waste years guessing.
The goal? Think five steps ahead, not just the next one. That’s how you win.
9 Lessons from Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-David
“Business is a game of strategy. And the person who thinks five moves ahead wins.”
Patrick Bet-David doesn’t write for theory. He writes from lived experience. He escaped a war zone, joined the U.S. Army, and built a media company from the ground up. In Your Next Five Moves, he shows you how to think clearly under pressure, set long-term strategy, and lead with purpose.
These 9 lessons from the book will help you stop feeling stuck and start making bold, smart moves.
1. Get brutally honest about what you want
Most people have no clue what they actually want. And if you’re not honest with yourself, you’ll chase goals that don’t even belong to you.
He says clarity starts with a single question: Who do you want to be?
Ask yourself:
- Do I want to be a solo entrepreneur?
- Do I want to build a remote business that earns me 50k and freedom?
- Or do I want to lead a billion-dollar company?
There’s no right answer. But you need to be real. If you keep lying about what you want, envy will creep in and drain your energy.
You’ll keep comparing yourself to others. That’s why he teaches you to use envy as a mirror. If someone has what you claim you don’t want, and it still bothers you, then you’re lying.
This book helps you stop that cycle and take control of your own story.
2. Stop overthinking and learn to process problems fast
He believes most people don’t fail because they lack ideas. They fail because they freeze.
You might feel overwhelmed right now. Too many options. Not enough time. But everything you’re dealing with falls under two buckets: playing offense or playing defense.
Offense grows your business. Defense protects it. That’s it.
So how do you get better at making decisions? He shares a simple tool: ask why until you hit the root of the issue.
Example:
- We lost our biggest client.
- Why? A competitor’s offer was cheaper.
- Why? Their product had fewer features.
- Why? Most people didn’t want all our features.
That’s your real issue. Now you fix the pricing, not the marketing.
You need this kind of thinking if you want to stop reacting and start leading.
3. Build a team that wins without you
He makes it clear. If your business falls apart when you take a break, it’s not a business. It’s a job with extra steps.
You need to document your systems. Write checklists. Record your process. Train people to take over tasks.
He asks, “If you disappeared for six months, would the business still run?”
If not, it’s time to stop hoarding control and start building trust.
You can’t scale solo. You need teammates who care. And the best way to attract them? Offer real opportunity. That means equity, bonuses, and a seat at the table.
People don’t just want a paycheck. They want purpose. If you get this right, your company grows faster—and your stress drops.
4. Scale your people if you want to scale your company
He says scaling isn’t about hiring more bodies. It’s about developing your people.
He shares a daily habit: Ask, How can I help my team grow today?
That could mean helping someone hit a personal goal. Or encouraging a team member to lead a project. Or giving equity to someone who’s gone above and beyond.
He also pushes the idea of intrapreneurs. These are people inside your business who run parts of it like their own startup. They think like owners. And they act like it too.
If your team levels up, your business will too.
5. Momentum is your greatest asset
He treats momentum like a relationship. When it’s good, you don’t want to mess it up. When you’ve got momentum, you don’t coast. You go harder.
He teaches you how to create it:
- Cut unnecessary steps in your processes.
- Automate what you can.
- Test changes fast. Then adjust.
And most importantly, you need to track what’s working. He says data should guide your energy. What gets measured gets fixed.
This lesson is gold for anyone juggling too many things. If you track the right numbers and cut the clutter, you’ll finally feel like you’re moving forward again.
6. Create systems so your business doesn’t depend on your personality
He believes founders burn out because they rely too much on personal hustle.
You might be charismatic. You might know your stuff. But that won’t scale.
You need systems.
Track your business with clear metrics. Build processes that run on paper, not just in your head. Replace vibes with visibility.
When data becomes your superpower, you don’t have to guess anymore.
You’ll know where to spend your time. You’ll spot leaks fast. You’ll coach your team better.
He makes it simple: If it can be measured, it can be improved.
7. Turn down the noise and take back your focus
You’re not tired. You’re distracted.
That’s what he says when people complain about burnout. The real killer of ambition? Noise.
He challenges you to cut out:
- Negative people
- Mindless scrolling
- Binge-watching
- Pointless arguments
- Fake support from people who don’t believe in your vision
You don’t need more advice. You need fewer distractions.
He calls this a power move. Because the people who win are usually the ones who stayed focused the longest.
8. Control your narrative before others do it for you
This one hits hard. He says if you don’t tell your story, someone else will.
He teaches you to own your voice. Share your journey. Talk about your values.
Don’t wait for perfect. Post that content. Write that story. Share that unpopular truth.
People will judge you anyway. So you might as well stand for something.
This is especially important if you want to build a brand online. In the creator economy, attention is leverage. He teaches you how to get it without selling your soul.
9. Learn how to create leverage in every part of life
Leverage means having options. The more options you have, the more power you hold.
He says the best way to create leverage is through relationships. Serve first. Give before you ask.
Help someone get what they want. Introduce them to someone valuable. Solve a problem for free.
When you make people’s lives better, they remember. And they return the favor tenfold.
You also get leverage by playing the long game. Avoid shortcuts. Build things that last.
He teaches you how to walk away from bad deals. How to stand your ground. And how to build a life where you don’t need to beg anyone for anything.
Conclusion
Success in business isn’t about guessing your next step. It’s about knowing your next five. Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-David gives you a roadmap to think clearly, act boldly, and build a business that works for your life—not against it.
Whether you’re stuck on what to build or struggling to scale what you’ve started, this book gives you the clarity and courage to move forward.
Ready for more insights to sharpen your business mind? Go read my blog post on The Personal MBA. It breaks down key business skills you need to win long term.
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