From: alexhormozi
Alex Hormozi, a business investor who took home over seven figures a month in income by the time he was 28 years old, shares a concept he calls the “anti-routine” [00:00:01]. This approach focuses on stopping unproductive activities rather than adding more to one’s schedule, leading to outsized financial returns [02:04:02]. His personal journey involved a significant paradigm shift over 18 months, transitioning from contemplating bankruptcy to earning over a million dollars monthly at age 27 [00:54:10].
The Flaw in “Million-Dollar Routines”
Many people assume that successful individuals achieve their financial success by doing specific, unique things they are not doing [01:25:01]. Hormozi contends this is incorrect, stating that most champions don’t possess something others lack; rather, they lack something others have, such as an “off switch” [01:39:13]. Their success is often driven by their lack of an off-switch, meaning they just keep going [01:52:43]. Consequently, individuals looking to improve should focus on stopping things they currently do that are unproductive [01:58:14].
The Power of “No”
The central theme of the anti-routine is the word “no” [03:16:15]. This approach suggests that instead of seeking new things to add to a routine, one needs to cultivate a routine of saying “no” [03:31:02]. This “season of no” is not meant to be permanent but rather a temporary period of intense focus [03:27:01].
Mindset Shifts for the Anti-Routine
- Priorities are Exclusive: The concept of “priorities” means that two things cannot be equally important [02:45:15]. If one spends equal time on two tasks, even while claiming one is more important, they are essentially treating both as equally important, which means neither is truly prioritized [03:00:23]. True prioritization involves saying “no” to everything else besides the chosen priority [03:49:09].
- Challenging the Obligation to Reply: When people communicate via text or email, there is an implied request for a reply [04:17:09]. However, having the time to reply does not equate to an obligation to do so [04:47:04]. Hormozi realized that if he couldn’t physically reply to, for example, 500,000 texts, the obligation to reply would vanish, demonstrating that the obligation never truly existed [04:54:19]. During his 18-month period of growth, he stopped replying to most people [05:12:09].
- Purpose of Events and Masterminds: Many events, masterminds, and coaching programs primarily serve social needs rather than solving specific problems [05:32:04]. Hormozi attended a mastermind, extracted what he needed, and then did not return for 18 months, spending that time executing instead [05:39:13]. He emphasizes that once you know what needs to be done, anything that prevents you from doing it is an obstacle [07:27:32].
Tactical Implementation of the Anti-Routine
To remove distractions and enable focused work, Hormozi implemented several tactical changes:
- Changing Communication Channels: He changed his phone number, giving his old one to his assistant [06:12:35]. He only initiated communication with essential contacts, refusing to be responsive to every person who previously had his number [06:57:07]. This drastically increased the “blank space” in his calendar [06:41:10].
- Limiting External Engagements: He stopped attending all events, focusing instead on execution once he had the necessary information [07:11:03].
- Dedicated Work Blocks: He stopped taking meetings from 4 AM to noon daily, dedicating the first eight hours of his day to uninterrupted work on his top priority [07:34:49]. This was crucial, especially in the early stages of business growth, before sufficient team leverage is established [07:41:09].
- Consistent Sleep Schedule: He maintained the same bedtime on weekends as on weekdays, ensuring a consistent wake-up time to maximize his uninterrupted work block [08:27:14].
- Optimized Health Practices: He reduced his workouts to twice a week, focusing on a “minimum effective dose” for maintenance rather than progress on multiple fronts [08:52:43]. He also incorporated fasting one or two days a week, consuming only caffeine and bone broth, to avoid interruptions from meal preparation and eating [09:24:02]. This approach allowed him to allocate his limited “growth juju” to his highest priorities [09:09:47].
- Eliminating Digital Distractions: He deleted all social media applications from his phone, recognizing that most posting functions could be done from a computer, thereby reducing consumption and interaction [09:42:25]. This freed up significant time, as many individuals spend three to five hours daily consuming social media [10:08:29].
The effectiveness of the anti-routine lies in recognizing that financial success is not about some secret routine, but about stopping unproductive activities and entering a “season of no” [10:26:00].