From: alexhormozi
Achieving significant success often requires a long-term focus and commitment rather than expecting immediate results [00:00:00]. Many aspiring creators and entrepreneurs anticipate rapid growth, such as a podcast “blowing up” in 90 days [00:00:01]. However, the reality is that substantial achievements are built over years of consistent effort [00:01:39].
Beyond Overnight Success
The perception of “overnight success” often overlooks years of dedicated work [00:00:26]. For instance, a podcast launched in 2017 took five and a half to six years to reach the top 10 in its category [00:00:32]. During this period, the creator consistently produced one to three podcasts every week for six years [00:00:42].
The initial phase of any endeavor, particularly in content creation, is a learning process:
- Finding your voice The first year is often spent discovering how you communicate effectively [00:00:53].
- Developing skills This includes learning how to teach, entertain, present, and speak [00:00:56].
- Evolving content The subject matter itself can evolve as you learn and grow [00:01:01]. For example, a podcast might start focused on a niche topic like running a gym, then broaden to general marketing, sales, and business as expertise develops [00:01:08]. Both the subject matter and delivery skill improve over time [00:01:21].
“It doesn’t take 90 days, it takes years.” [00:01:39]
The Power of Process Over Outcome
A key shift in mindset changes for achieving financial goals involves focusing on the process and activities rather than solely on the outcome or immediate monetary results [00:03:07]. An entrepreneur who initially focused on sales would slow down their efforts once money came in, leading to a cycle of scarcity [00:02:48]. This highlights a lack of understanding the impact of commitment and focus.
- Consistency is key True success comes from the trait of consistency – the ability to perform tasks repeatedly, even without immediate positive results [00:03:20].
- Independent of results Maintain activities whether things are going exceptionally well or not yet yielding desired outcomes [00:03:35].
- The “doing” is the goal Make the action itself the goal. If the action is making posts or reaching out, then completing those actions daily signifies success, regardless of the immediate external outcome [00:01:52].
“The goal of the winner is to commit to the activities, the goal of the loser is to commit to the goal.” [00:04:24]
This perspective, inspired by “Atomic Habits,” suggests that while everyone might share goals (e.g., being rich or having a six-pack), it’s the unique activities performed that differentiate individuals [00:04:06]. When you focus on the activities that generate wealth rather than just the million dollars, you gain control over your self-esteem, as it’s tied to what you can control [00:04:44].
Cultivating Consistency
An example illustrates the power of sustained effort: a friend who wanted to build an online brand was advised to start posting valuable short-form content daily [00:02:14]. After consistently posting every day for six months, one video took off, then another, leading to significant monthly income from content [00:02:21]. This success came after nine years of prior business experience [00:02:37].
This demonstrates the impact of Longterm Investment and the importance of financial discipline and longterm planning. If you can commit to the actions, behaviors, and traits that foster growth, you will become the kind of person capable of sustained effort [00:03:51]. This trait, in turn, can remove money as a constraint in your life [00:04:02].
Shifting Perspective: Thinking in Decades
Instead of thinking in days or 90-day sprints, adopt a “thinking in decades” approach to goal setting [00:01:44]. This long-term outlook helps maintain motivation and focus.
- Long-term commitment When discussing a YouTube channel, a commitment to a 5-to-10-year horizon was expressed, stating, “I’m in for a decade” [00:05:15]. This perspective was unique among clients who typically sought immediate leads [00:05:26].
- Reduced emotional volatility This entrepreneurship and business growth mindset of long-term thinking helps decrease emotional ups and downs in business, as the focus is not on short-term gains but on sustained progress [00:06:01].
By putting your “game playing life” into things you can control—your actions and consistency—rather than uncontrollable outcomes, you build resilience and achieve lasting success [00:06:11]. This aligns with the role of longterm investment in personal growth.