From: alexhormozi
Avoiding complacency is crucial for continuous growth and success, both personally and professionally. It involves consistently pushing beyond current achievements and adapting to challenges [00:01:04].
What is Complacency?
Complacency can manifest as a feeling of satisfaction that leads to stagnation [00:01:24]. For those who are already at the top, comparing oneself only to those already surpassed can lead to becoming complacent [00:01:04].
Why Avoid Complacency?
Continuous Learning and Growth
True learning requires a change in behavior when presented with the same conditions [00:17:34]. If you are presented with the same situation and do not change your behavior, you have not learned [00:17:38]. The speed at which you change your actions in a given situation defines your intelligence [00:17:45]. Leaving an event or training and returning to the same environment without changing behavior signifies a lack of learning [00:18:32].
The Dangers of Opportunity Hopping
Many people fall into a cycle of “opportunity hopping,” moving from “uninformed optimism” to “informed pessimism” and then into the “valley of despair” when faced with difficulties [00:21:32]. Instead of pushing through the hard times, they jump to a new opportunity, only to repeat the cycle [00:22:39]. This contrasts sharply with those who persist, leading to compounding returns and sustained success [00:23:49].
Building Resilience and Credibility
Hard times are when champions are made and skills are sharpened [00:25:12]. Winning during difficult periods proves capability and builds credibility, as people observe how you act [00:24:56]. An agent who has navigated multiple recessions without leaving their profession is more trusted than one who juggles multiple opportunities and abandons them when convenient [00:24:19]. As the saying goes, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor” [00:25:23].
The Power of Persistence
What makes someone extraordinary is not just what they do, but “how long you’re willing to do it for” [00:26:10]. Simple actions, consistently performed over a long period, become extraordinary [00:26:22].
Strategic Timing for Change
The best time to change your behavior and commit to new habits is when you are busiest [00:36:34]. Starting new habits during busy periods ensures they are enduring, as they are learned and applied in the worst conditions, making them stick in the best [00:37:19]. Waiting until you are “not busy” implies that the habit is contingent on having free time, which will cause you to stop when busy again [00:36:49]. Everyone has the same 24 hours, and if you are busy but not making progress, you are likely doing the wrong things. The first step is elimination, not addition [00:38:10].
Overcoming Obstacles to Avoid Complacency
The “When, Then” Fallacy
A common trap is thinking, “When I have more time, I’ll do it” [00:39:29]. This “when, then” fallacy inverts the sequence of actions and results. To achieve something, you must do the necessary actions now to get the desired outcome later [00:39:50].
Embracing Hardship
Hardship is a natural part of any growth process [00:43:46]. What makes things hard is not complexity, but consistent action [00:44:55]. You may experience uncertainty, doubt, and stress, but continuing to act regardless is what defines winners [00:44:18]. These difficult times provide proof of your capabilities and are the stories you will tell about yourself <a class=“yt=“yt-timestamp” data-t=“00:25:56”>[00:25:56].
Ultimately, the game of life, whether in marriage, health, or business, is not about a single win, but about outlasting [00:42:38]. Success comes down to making decisions that are 100% within your control [00:42:42].