From: alexhormozi
The pursuit of happiness is often viewed as a primary life goal, but this perspective can be counterproductive to happiness and meaning in life itself. The speaker suggests that obsessing about happiness often leads to being the least happy people [00:00:57]. This is because having happiness as a goal automatically places it outside of oneself, creating a space between the individual and the goal, implying that one isn’t currently happy [00:01:08]. Like eating to never be hungry again or sleeping to never need sleep again, happiness is a continuous state, not an achievement to be checked off [00:00:36].
Many individuals, including Olympians, experience depression after achieving significant goals, because they then question “now what?” [00:00:03]. The speaker, personally, does not optimize for subjective well-being for themselves, but rather for the audience [00:00:14]. Instead, they derive the most joy from what they deem meaningful work [00:01:31].
The Pursuit of Usefulness
Instead of happiness, the speaker proposes that “usefulness” is a more effective daily goal [00:07:09]. Being useful leads to respect, which is described as a fundamental desire for men [00:04:54]. Someone who is useful is not cast aside and possesses an attractive trait, being a contributing member of society [00:05:04].
“In order to be useful you have to be useful to other people… to be useful to other people you need to improve yourself.” [00:06:54]
This focus on usefulness inherently requires self-improvement and service to others [00:07:02].
Skill Mastery and Confidence
Skill mastery is crucial for usefulness and attracting desired outcomes [00:05:25]. The speaker is not afraid of losing everything because they know their skills can help grow any business [00:06:04]. This confidence comes from a “stack of undeniable proof” gained through relentless effort and repetition, not from affirmations [00:18:05]. Repeated practice, like performing a presentation 100 times, removes emotional affect to the outcome, leading to natural confidence [00:18:41].
The Power of Work and the Input-Output Equation
Work is the ultimate goal, not just a means to an end [00:45:21]. The speaker believes that working as hard as possible, learning one’s capacity, and striving for excellence in output is the path to self-fulfillment [00:45:31].
To achieve this, one must identify the “input-output equation” for their desired skill [00:17:23]. This means understanding what specific actions, repeated consistently, lead to improvement [00:17:25]. Examples include:
- Writing: Editing, editing, editing [00:17:01].
- Public speaking: Practicing the presentation repeatedly [00:15:08].
- Sales: Doing 100 calls or 10 conversations a day [00:17:34].
Learning How to Try
Many people mistakenly believe they are “bad at things” without truly learning how to try [00:16:15]. The speaker emphasizes that “learning how to try is hard” [01:11:48], and that most people don’t know “how to work that hard” [00:19:57].
“If you just try at anything compared to other people you’ll win because everyone the bar is so low to win nowadays.” [01:11:51]
Athletes, for example, learn the meta-skill of enduring initial struggles before achieving mastery [00:14:03]. This perseverance eventually makes the work itself intrinsically rewarding [00:29:29].
Optimizing the Environment
Aligning your environment with your goals is crucial [00:21:00]. This means minimizing distractions and eliminating anything that interferes with the input-output equation [00:21:02]. For the speaker, this includes:
- Scheduling the freshest hours for core work (e.g., 6 hours of writing) with no meetings [00:22:27].
- Working in distraction-free environments (no windows, no sound) [01:17:31].
- Resolving personal stressors to maintain focus [01:18:19].
- Being willing to sacrifice non-essential activities, including certain relationships, to be the best [00:21:12].
Distinguishing Happiness from Joy
The speaker defines “joy” as being fully present in the moment [00:35:50]. It’s possible to “joyfully mourn” by being present and consoling someone else [00:35:57]. In contrast, “happiness” as typically pursued by most people is often pleasure-seeking or hedonism [00:36:56]. While short-term pleasure is not inherently bad, pursuing it at the expense of long-term goals can lead to emptiness [00:37:43]. When the goal of happiness is abandoned, it ceases to be something external and allows for presence in the moment [00:36:30].
Work as the Ultimate Goal
The concept of “work-life balance” is viewed as a fallacy, similar to the idea of a “Heaven” where one never has to work [00:42:27]. Humans are “built to work” [00:43:12], and the most enjoyable days are those spent working the longest [00:43:21]. Everything desirable that isn’t automatically possessed requires effort [00:52:51].
The speaker emphasizes that “the work is the goal” itself, not just a means to an end [00:46:58]. This perspective allows one to be divorced from outcomes, leading to outsized results because of the intense focus on the process [00:45:54].
Reframing Challenges and Growth
Challenges and hardships are seen as opportunities for growth and self-improvement [00:55:08]. The speaker, for example, experienced depression during a period of forced inactivity while selling their business, highlighting the intrinsic human need to work [00:42:07].
“In all work there is profit… the work works on you more than you work on it.” [01:14:36]
This means that even if the immediate output is not perfect (“junk work”), the process of working itself builds skill and understanding [01:13:21]. The ability to discern what is “good enough” or “better” only comes after putting in the necessary effort [01:13:51].
Fallacies: “Finding Your Passion” and the “Perfect Pick”
- Finding your passion: Passion is not found, it’s created through sustained effort and willingness to endure initial struggles [01:19:56]. When one gets good at something, they tend to like it [01:20:05].
- The perfect pick: The first career or pursuit doesn’t have to be the last [01:20:14]. Life is long, and skills gained in one area can uniquely translate and provide an advantage in unexpected future endeavors [01:21:18]. All efforts contribute to a “stack of unique carryovers” that can lead to unique solutions later [01:21:20].
Self-Reflection and Growth
The speaker engages in a “Solomon conversation” with their “future self” to gain objective, aligned advice on complex business decisions [00:57:58]. This internal dialogue provides direct, un-sugarcoated guidance, allowing for detached rationality in decision-making [00:58:26].
Ultimately, “effort is the universal currency of respect” [01:18:17]. By continuously pushing one’s capacity to work and excel, one can achieve fulfillment and outsized outcomes, not as a direct goal, but as a consequence of dedicating oneself to the process of meaningful work [00:45:57].