Brutally Honest Advice to My Younger Poorer Self

Summary

• You can outperform 99% of people by focusing on working hard over time rather than seeking immediate rewards.
• Hard work is about pushing past the point of stress and doubt and recognizing that sleepless nights and uncertainty are part of the entrepreneurial journey.
• Working harder reveals your true capabilities, which are far greater than you initially might think.
• The combination of work ethic and time is incredibly powerful in wealth generation.
• Focusing deeply on a few things is essential; spreading yourself too thin prevents greatness due to limited time and resources.
• Continuous effort without shortcuts or excuses is crucial for success.
• It's acceptable to work on the weekends to progress towards your goals; your work hours should be productive and have a clear output.
• Shift your perspective on work by planning in "hundreds"—hours, days, minutes—to foster more significant effort.
• Producing quantity can lead to quality; multiple iterations can foster improvement, but there is value in investing substantial time in the initial creation to minimize later revisions.
• Transition from an hourly job mindset: self-employment demands being paid for outcomes, not mere presence.
• Embrace delays in gratification; this mindset leads to more significant achievements, like a plane requiring a longer runway for take off.
• Entrepreneurship is filled with uncertainty and struggle; this feeling is normal and indicates you're on the right track.
• Accept that your work has to create the person you want to become—use personal growth as your daily reward.
• Avoid the cultural narrative of quick and easy success; real achievements take hard work, time, and are never guaranteed.
• Building a reputation takes time; patience pays off with greater trust and affinity established over time.
• Service businesses can offer quicker paths to success for beginners compared to product-based or highly regulated industries.
• Sometimes, laying a solid foundation can enable faster, larger-scale success later, comparing adequate preparation to sharpening an axe versus immediate action.
• Choose goals and prioritize your actions based on where you can reap the biggest rewards, even if it takes longer.
• Progress can be hampered by switching focus for the sake of speed; consistent pursuit of a single goal often leads to greater success.
• Success is the best revenge against critics; as you expand, detractors become irrelevant.
• Being critiqued or copied by others means you're doing something worth noticing; don't be distracted by attempts to detract you from your goals.
• Build and rely on skills as your "income insurance"—they ensure you can always generate revenue in some form.
• The modern concept of weekends is relatively new; what you need is meaningful work that doesn't necessitate a break.
• Employ a long-term view of work-life balance; some periods will be heavier in work, while others less so.
• By working effectively on weekends, you can progress much faster compared to those who take them entirely off.
• Friendship is valuable when it includes genuine support for your success and inspires you to become better.
• People's initial support of your entrepreneurial venture can stem from seeing you as less competition; their mindset may change as you become successful.
• Acting on advice from successful individuals accelerates your progress compared to learning solely from personal experience.
• Giving value without expectation can lead to opportunities; providing value for free initially can build reputation and credibility, leading to paid work.
• Starting with charitable work can transition into a paid business model once you've proven your value to initial clients.

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How To Take Action

I would suggest focusing on hard work and patience. If you’re starting a business, be prepared for sleepless nights and doubts. Remember, it's normal to feel uncertain, but that’s part of the journey. You have to push beyond stress to discover your true potential. Think of hard work plus time as a powerful duo for creating wealth.

Pick a few things that matter most and go deep instead of going wide. You’ve got limited time and trying to do everything will hold you back. Consistent effort is key, so don't look for shortcuts.

Working weekends can be okay. It means you're using every opportunity to get ahead. Plan your work in "hundreds"—of minutes, hours, or days—to push yourself to do more. And remember, sometimes producing a lot of work helps you improve, but investing time upfront can minimize revisions later.

Change the way you see work. You’re not getting paid by the hour but for outcomes. Learn from successful people, as their advice can speed up your progress.

Giving value with no expectation of a return might lead to opportunities. Start by providing something for free, then build up your reputation and credibility. Once you’ve shown your worth, you can start charging for it.

If you’re setting up a service business, you might find a quicker path to success. A solid foundation, although it takes time, can lead to bigger and faster wins later.

Remember that success is the best answer to critics. People copying you means you’re doing something noticeable. Rely on your skills as your "income insurance," because they ensure you’ll always be able to generate revenue.

Lastly, create a network of genuine supporters. True friendships are those where people cheer you on and inspire you to be better. They're the ones who will stick with you even when things get tough.

Quotes

"You can beat 99% of people simply by continuing to work without needing your immediate reward"

– Alex Hormozi

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"The harder you work, the more you realize what you used to think was hard work isn't even close to what you're capable of"

– Alex Hormozi

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"It's okay to work on weekends"

– Alex Hormozi

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"If you count in hundreds, it just automatically forces you to do a significantly larger amount of effort"

– Alex Hormozi

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"Success is the only revenge"

– Alex Hormozi