Why Success Isn’t About Hours: Alex Hormozi’s Game-Changing Lessons from Modern Wisdom
What if success isn’t about putting in the hours, but about making bold decisions and embracing failure? In *Modern Wisdom*, Alex Hormozi shares why quick action beats overthinking and how choosing the right regrets can set you free from fear and judgment.
When we think about success, the mainstream advice often centers on hard work, persistence, and mastering a skill with thousands of hours of practice. But what if some of the most common success formulas were flawed or incomplete? Enter Alex Hormozi, an entrepreneur who’s made waves by challenging conventional wisdom and sharing his controversial truths about life, success, and failure. On Modern Wisdom with Chris Williamson, Hormozi takes us through his unique approach to business, life, and the mindset shifts needed to break free from societal norms and achieve real success.
Modern Wisdom- ALEX HORMOZI
In this article, we’re going to explore key takeaways from Hormozi’s conversation, offering practical lessons for your life and career. By the end, you’ll not only rethink your path to success but also gain actionable strategies for overcoming fear, making better decisions, and staying true to your own journey.
The Myths We Live By: Success Isn’t Linear
We’ve all been told that success follows a straight path—put in the hours, follow the rules, and you’ll eventually get there. But Hormozi challenges this idea head-on. He argues that success is more chaotic than we’re led to believe. It’s full of twists, turns, failures, and doubt. Hormozi’s own story is filled with insecurities and indecision. However, instead of letting fear paralyze him, he kept moving.
The key takeaway? Indecision costs more than failure. When we avoid making decisions out of fear, we’re actually losing far more valuable time than we realize. Inaction becomes the real enemy, not failure itself.
Hormozi’s stance flips the traditional narrative on its head: success doesn’t come from carefully measured hours—it comes from bold choices and the willingness to act. His critique of the 10,000-hour rule aligns perfectly here. Mastery isn’t just about putting in the time; it’s about being brave enough to make decisions and take risks when the opportunity arises.
ALEX HORMOZI
The Reality of a Non-Linear Journey
Hormozi shares that early in his career, he was plagued by doubt. He didn’t know which direction to go, and there were many points where things could have gone sideways. But here’s the difference: instead of getting stuck in indecision, he chose to act. This is a powerful message for anyone feeling stuck or unsure—acting on imperfect information is better than not acting at all.
Think about it. How many times have you delayed a decision because you wanted more clarity, more certainty? Hormozi argues that waiting for the “right” moment or for perfect conditions is a trap. Instead, he suggests that the momentum you build from acting—whether right or wrong—pushes you forward far more than waiting ever will.
Decision-Making as a Form of Success
This reframes how we think about success. It’s not just the outcome that defines success, but the process of making decisions that matters. Each decision, right or wrong, teaches you something. Each move forward builds experience. Hormozi stresses that success is built on a collection of decisions and actions, not just time spent.
Ultimately, Hormozi urges us to accept that success is unpredictable, and instead of fearing that, we should embrace it.
Austin Snow
WHY THE 10,000 HOUR RULE IS BULLSHIT
Anxiety Cost: Stop Wasting Time on Indecision
Hormozi introduces this brilliant concept of “anxiety cost”—the mental energy and time you waste when you’re stuck in indecision. Think about it. Every time you overthink a decision, you’re losing precious moments that you’ll never get back. And here’s the kicker: the cost of not making a decision is often greater than the risk of making the wrong one.
We all want to get it right the first time, but that mindset can paralyze you. Instead, Hormozi says it’s far better to make decisions quickly, act, and adjust along the way. Waiting for perfection leads to stagnation. And let’s be honest, how many opportunities have you missed out on because you were stuck in indecision? Perfect is the enemy of progress.
So, the takeaway here is simple but powerful: Start messy. Jump in, make your move, and refine your process as you go. It’s better to learn by doing than to spend ages waiting for the perfect moment that may never come. Every moment spent being unsure is a moment you can’t get back. The key is to build momentum and learn from your experiences along the way.
Fear of Judgment: Why Are We Letting Others Dictate Our Lives?
This is where it gets really interesting. Fear of judgment holds so many people back from living the life they want. Whether you’re worried about how your family will react, what your friends will say, or how your peers will perceive you, this fear can be paralyzing.
Hormozi points out that most people are far more concerned with how others see them than they are with reaching their own potential. It’s a deep truth that resonates with so many of us. The fear of failure is often rooted in the fear of being judged by others.
Here’s where Hormozi’s breakthrough moment comes in. He realized something incredibly liberating: In three generations, no one will remember you or your failures. Take a moment and really let that sink in. This is a life-changing perspective shift because it frees you from caring so much about external validation. Once he internalized this idea, Hormozi began making bold decisions without the weight of others’ opinions holding him back.
He calls this the ultimate freedom—the ability to pursue your goals without worrying about judgment. Can you imagine how much more you’d accomplish if you weren’t constantly concerned with what others thought of you?
WHO CARES WHAT PEOPLE THINK?!!
Practical Advice: Stop Living for Others
The next time you find yourself hesitating because you’re worried about how others will judge you, ask yourself: “In three generations, will anyone even care?” This simple but powerful question can help you reframe how you view your actions and free you from the need for external validation.
Choosing Your Regrets: A New Approach to Decision-Making
This is one of the most profound insights Hormozi offers: “choosing your regrets”. Here’s the deal—no matter what decision you make, you’re going to have regrets. That’s just the nature of life. Every action comes with an opportunity cost. But the key is this: Which regret can you live with?
Hormozi’s philosophy is that the regret of not taking action is far worse than the regret of failing. This mindset allowed him to make bold moves in his life and career, knowing that inaction would haunt him more than any mistake.
He tells a story about the late author Christopher Hitchens, who said, “We must choose our regrets.” That quote struck a chord with Hormozi, and it’s something we can all apply to our own lives. Regret is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to paralyze us. By actively choosing which regret we can live with, we can move forward without constantly second-guessing ourselves.
Austin Snow
NO ONE IS COMING TO SAVE YOU
Actionable Tip: Ask Yourself Which Regret Is Worse
When faced with a tough decision, try this framework: Which regret would you rather live with—the regret of trying and failing or the regret of not trying at all? This question brings clarity and can help you break free from the fear of failure, allowing you to make decisions with confidence.
Resilience: Lean into the Struggle
One of the central themes of Hormozi’s philosophy is resilience. In today’s world of instant gratification, so many people shy away from discomfort and look for shortcuts. But here’s where Hormozi stands out: The struggle is where the real growth happens.
Hormozi didn’t shy away from long hours or adversity. In fact, he worked 10-12 hours a day, six and a half days a week to build his empire. The difference wasn’t just about putting in the time—it was about his willingness to endure hardship. He realized that most people give up way too soon. The more challenges he faced, the stronger and more resilient he became.
The point is this: Hardship is necessary for success. Every time you face a challenge and push through, you’re building your resilience. Hormozi’s belief is that success doesn’t come from avoiding discomfort; it comes from embracing it.
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Key Takeaway: Don’t Fear the Struggle—Embrace It
The next time you face a tough situation, remind yourself that this is where growth happens. Don’t shy away from discomfort. Lean into it. The more you endure, the stronger you become, and ultimately, the closer you get to your goals.
Cynicism and Conformity: The Silent Killers of Ambition
In his conversation with Chris Williamson, Hormozi talks about two major forces that kill ambition: cynicism and conformity.
Cynicism acts like a protective shield. People use it to avoid disappointment and failure, thinking that by being cynical, they’re saving themselves from getting hurt. But in reality, cynicism keeps you stuck. It stops you from taking risks, and without risks, there’s no reward. Cynics think they’re protecting themselves, but they’re actually holding themselves back.
Then there’s conformity. This is something that many of us struggle with—fitting into societal expectations instead of forging our own path. Hormozi shares how he initially tried to play by society’s rules but eventually realized that true success comes from punking the game—that is, creating your own rules and building your own character version of success, not someone else’s.
Practical Strategy: Break Free from Cynicism and Conformity
Here’s a challenge: Question your beliefs. Are you holding yourself back because of cynicism? Are you conforming to what society expects instead of following your own path? By confronting these questions, you can start to break free from these silent killers of ambition and pursue the life you actually want.
The Power of Optimism: Why Positivity Wins
Hormozi flips the common narrative about cynicism on its head. While many people believe that cynicism keeps them grounded, he argues that optimism is what leads to long-term success. Optimists are more willing to take risks, and even if they fail, they have the resilience to keep going until they succeed.
He encourages everyone to adopt an optimistic mindset, not just in business but in every aspect of life. This doesn’t mean ignoring reality. Instead, it’s about believing in your ability to overcome challenges and focusing on the opportunities that lie ahead.
Hormozi’s take is that the bar for success has never been lower. The opportunities are there, but you have to take action. Optimists are the ones who take those opportunities and turn them into something real.
Actionable Advice: Start Cultivating Optimism
You don’t have to be born an optimist to develop an optimistic mindset. Start by celebrating your small wins and reframing failures as learning experiences. The more you train yourself to see the positive side of things, the more likely you are to keep moving forward, no matter what challenges come your way.
Redefining Success with Alex Hormozi’s Truths
At the heart of Alex Hormozi’s appearance on Modern Wisdom is the idea that success isn’t about putting in more hours or avoiding failure. It’s about making bold decisions, choosing which regrets you can live with, and embracing the struggle. By rejecting cynicism and adopting an optimistic mindset, you can free yourself from the constraints that hold most people back.
Hormozi’s lessons offer a roadmap for anyone looking to break free from societal pressures and create their own version of success. Whether you’re building a business, starting a new career, or just trying to live more authentically, these truths can help you get there.
Practical Takeaways:
• Decide quickly: Don’t waste time in indecision. Act now and adjust as needed.
• Let go of judgment: In a few generations, no one will care about your failures.
• Choose your regrets: Ask yourself which regret you’d rather live with—inaction or failure?
• Embrace discomfort: Growth comes from pushing through hardship.
• Be optimistic: Believe in your ability to succeed, and opportunities will open up.
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