From: alexhormozi
Earning one’s own respect is the most challenging form of respect to acquire [00:00:00]. A key to achieving success, wealth, and status lies not just in setting goals, but in embodying the type of person who achieves those goals [00:00:43].
The “Be-Do-Have” Framework
There are three elements to any goal:
- External Result The desired outcome, such as making more money or getting a six-pack [00:00:54].
- Processes, Behaviors, Activity The actions taken to achieve the goal, like “doing the work” [00:01:01].
- Being the Type of Person Identifying with and embodying the behaviors that lead to the desired results [00:01:09]. This framework, often referred to as “Be-Do-Have,” is a common concept in personal development and behavioral psychology [00:01:26].
Goals Alone Are Insufficient
Simply writing down a goal means nothing on its own [00:01:58]. While having a direction is better than none, winners and losers often share the same goals [00:02:08]. For instance, all Olympic athletes have the same goal, and all business people aim to increase their earnings [00:02:18]. If two people have identical goals but only one achieves them, the goal itself cannot be the primary driver of success [00:02:36]. The true differentiator lies in the behaviors that lead to the goal [00:02:47].
Even when people know what activities they should be doing to achieve a result (e.g., more advertising to get more customers), they often fail to do them [00:03:40]. This highlights a gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it [00:03:47].
The Power of Identity
The most effective strategy for consistent action and goal achievement is to shift one’s identity [00:05:37]. This is achieved by asking a simple, keystone habit question: “What would a person who does this type of thing do in this instance?” [00:04:04]
This query helps to internally align one’s actions with the desired identity. Instead of focusing on a 50-point checklist of activities, concentrating on the type of person one wants to become simplifies the process [00:05:01]. For example, asking “What would a wise man do?” or “What would a billionaire do?” provides a guiding principle for daily decisions [00:04:18], [00:05:12].
Reinforcing Identity Through Action
One’s identity is like a voting system, where each action casts a vote for the type of person you are becoming [00:04:39]. This concept is a core element of mindset strategies for self-improvement. Affirmations alone (e.g., “I am a lion”) are ineffective unless supported by evidence through action [00:06:31]. To become the desired person, one must start by doing the things that person would do [00:06:51].
“Your actions… literally becomes who you are, which means that we can actively change who we are by changing what we do.” [00:08:35]
The word “identity” itself, stemming from “entity” (being) and “identical” (repeated), means “repeated beingness” [00:08:27]. This reinforces the idea that who you are is a result of your consistent actions [00:08:35]. By fixing for “the being,” the necessary habits will naturally follow [00:07:25].
Practical Application: The “What Would X Do?” Hack
This framework can be applied to diverse scenarios:
- “What would a person with a six-pack do?” [00:07:07]
- “What would an amazing husband do?” [00:07:13]
- “What would someone 10 times smarter than me do?” [00:06:03]
- “What would Jesus do?” – a powerful question in the Christian community that encourages acting in alignment with a specific ideal [00:09:46].
- “What would King Solomon do?” or “What would Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger do?” for business and wisdom [00:10:16].
This approach simplifies decision-making by providing an overarching principle rather than a rigid list of daily routines [00:13:00].
Addressing Common Objections
Many people claim they don’t know what their ideal self would do (e.g., “I don’t know what a billionaire would do”) [00:14:18]. However, most individuals inherently know what they need to do but simply aren’t doing it [00:13:30]. The issue is often a lack of action rather than a lack of knowledge [00:14:09].
If one truly doesn’t know, they can adjust the question to a more attainable level (e.g., “What would a millionaire do?” or “What would someone trying to become a millionaire do?“) [00:14:24]. The core is the willingness to ask a question that allows for progress [00:14:35].
The Uncommonly Obvious
People who achieve extraordinary results typically do the “uncommonly obvious thing” for an extended period [00:15:00]. Their consistent behaviors stem from who they are rather than being motivated solely by an external outcome [00:15:08]. This internal motivation allows them to persevere indefinitely, leading to disproportionate returns, unlike those who might pull back once an external objective is met [00:15:16].
Ultimately, the process involves constantly asking: “What type of person do I wish to become?” and making that the guiding principle for every decision [00:12:45]. This reinforces the story one tells themselves about who they are, leading to deep, long-lasting change that eventually becomes effortless [00:03:33].