the Fallacy of Happiness
or why you aren’t hitting your goals (but Alex & Leila Hormozi are)
Jocko Willink famously said “discipline equals freedom”.
And that philosophy (albeit said differently) is how Alex & Leila achieve great success — by not focusing on being happy. (Alex has done multiple podcasts where he talks about his success being tied to the decision to forgo happiness)
To achieve success, focus on doing the work — not how you are feeling about it.
Focusing on “happiness” is a trap.
You don’t actually need to be happy to achieve your goals. You do need to do the work, put in the effort, get to the results. Happy will come later (it has for Alex & Leila).
We’ve been sold a story that happiness is the most important thing in the world — “sold a story” should warn you.
That story is a lie.
Happiness is earned — like world championships, amazing health at 50, and world records. We aren’t entitled to happiness.
Earning happiness is like anything of value that we earn. It takes time + effort + focus. If you won’t do the equation — you don’t get the reward.
I’ve had this mental model for decades.
It worked for me because my effort always had an underlying value. I didn’t always like the effort but it had meaning. It always had meaning.
Simon Sinek talks about “start with why” — and that’s been the strategy that lets Jocko, Leila, Alex (and me) forgo happiness and hit our goals. We found the value place that made the effort doable.
Writing this post doesn’t make me happy.
I’d rather be riding my bicycle, helping my son with his car, or going overlanding with my partner — and I’m writing this anyway. I’m writing because I know that the world needs a new mental model around happiness.
You can do much worse than emulating the perspective and grind of Alex & Leila & Jocko.
Bill’s bucket list is empty — he drove hundreds of Ferraris, rode thousands of waves, produced software products that helped millions, and has great kids. He also broke bones, struggled with depression, got divorced, and re-invented himself. 40 Percent Better is his latest brainchild — the key to caring and engaged employees. If you want to be an amazing leader, let’s talk.