Entrepreneur McKelle Siebert shared lessons on outlasting, discipline, partnerships, and building real success during UVU’s Halladay Lecture Series.
UVU was honored to welcome McKelle Siebert, Realtor and Entrepreneur, as this week’s guest speaker for the Reed and Christine Halladay Lecture Series.
McKelle earned her real estate license at just 18 years old while attending Utah Valley University, where she later graduated in Business Management and Finance. She is married to her best friend, Joey, and together they recently welcomed their first child, Knox.
During her lecture, McKelle shared lessons from her journey in real estate and leadership, centered on what she calls “The Principle of Outlasting, the discipline that changes everything.” Drawing inspiration from Michael Jordan, she reminded students that even the greatest athletes fail more often than they succeed, but what sets them apart is their ability to keep going.
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career… I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed,” she quoted.
McKelle explained that most people quit when things get hard, but the greats don’t. They outlast.
McKelle introduced what she calls the Outlast Formula:
Mundane → Reps → Years → Boring = Breakthrough.
She explained that real success isn’t built overnight; it’s built through consistency when no one’s watching. For the first three years of her career, McKelle did the kind of work most people overlook, such as cleaning homes, measuring blinds, and landscaping. It wasn’t glamorous, but it laid the foundation for everything that came later.
“There was no glory, no audience, just consistency,” she said. “The boring work built my freedom."
McKelle shared that 87% of real estate agents quit within their first two years, and half of all new businesses fail within five. Those numbers, she said, prove that discipline matters more than talent.
“Do so many reps that it would be unreasonable for you not to be successful,” she quoted from entrepreneur Alex Hormozi.
Her message was clear: master boredom, and you’ll master success.
McKelle also spoke about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Using examples from iconic partnerships, both the ones that thrived and the ones that fell apart, she highlighted how ego, timing, and conflicting values can make or break relationships, whether in business or in life.
She pointed out that 70% of business partnerships fail within five years, not because of lack of skill but because of misaligned values and poor communication. To build something that lasts, McKelle said, you first have to know who you are.
“You need to decide who you are and what you value before you partner with someone,” she said.
Drawing from the D.I.S.C. behavioral theory, McKelle encouraged students to understand their own behavioral styles and define their non-negotiables early. She also shared her framework for building strong partnerships.
Mission: What are we building, and why does it matter to both of us?
Fortune Tell: Ask the hard questions early, before money complicates things.
Roles: Clarity prevents conflict. Trust each other to perform.
When conflict arises, she advised leading with honesty:
Name it: Silence protects egos, not partnerships.
Truth it: Fifteen minutes of honesty beats fifteen months of resentment.
Release it: Sometimes growth means outgrowing someone, and that’s okay.
McKelle tied these lessons back to her theme of outlasting, reminding students that both success and relationships are built on endurance, self-awareness, and the willingness to do the hard, quiet work.
To close, McKelle left students with a message that summed up her entire lecture:
“Who you want to attract is who you need to become. Who you choose determines how
far you go.”
During the Q&A, McKelle answered a wide variety of questions from students, including how to succeed in real estate, navigate the housing market, and be taken seriously as young agents.
The Woodbury School of Business extends its gratitude to McKelle Siebert for sharing her time, story, and insights with UVU students. Her message was a refreshing reminder that lasting success is not about the spotlight, but about the steady discipline to outlast.
Want to catch every insight from this year’s Halladay Lecture Series?
Watch McKelle Siebert's full lecture below.
