Alex Hormozi: Building a Life Without Excuses
How Choosing Action Over Comfort Can Change Everything
Hey there!
Have you ever felt like there’s this big gap between where you are and where you actually want to be? Like, you know you’re capable of more, but there’s something holding you back? Alex Hormozi’s approach to success really puts things in perspective—it’s not about waiting for the right moment, opportunity, or “feeling ready.” It’s about getting out of our own way and taking action, even when it feels uncomfortable.
This week, I’ve been thinking about how often we let excuses and comfortable choices get in the way of real progress. Hormozi’s words hit on something that’s easy to overlook: if we’re not actively working on what we want, we’re losing precious time we can’t get back. So, these insights aren’t just about having more motivation; they’re about how to reframe the decisions we make every day—our choices, the skills we invest in, the risks we’re willing to take—all of which can lead us towards the life we actually want.
1. Excuses Don’t Build Progress
The time spent justifying why we’re not where we want to be could be used to actually get there. Complaints, self-doubt, and excuses may seem like a temporary relief, but they ultimately keep us stuck. In reality, every second spent rationalising failure is time we could have spent working towards change.
Key Takeaway: Excuses keep us in place; action moves us forward. Choose progress over complaint.
2. Opportunity Isn’t the Issue—Choices Are
Success doesn’t come from a perfect set of circumstances; it comes from choosing well in the circumstances we have. Often, what holds us back isn’t a lack of opportunity, but the way we filter our decisions—saying "yes" to distractions and "no" to chances that push us. Every decision we make either builds or breaks our momentum.
Key Takeaway: Success comes from discerning choices, not perfect conditions. Choose wisely to make meaningful progress.
3. Your Skills Define Your Limits
The gap between where you are now and where you want to be is bridged by your skills. Rather than wondering why success feels distant, consider how much of that distance is within your control. Investing in new skills—whether learning, practising, or improving—gets you closer to your goals. Ignoring growth, on the other hand, means paying the price of staying in place.
Key Takeaway: Skill-building is the investment that pays off in growth. Improve yourself to move closer to your goals.
4. Play to Win, Not Just to Avoid Failure
Approaching goals with caution can feel safe, but it often leads to stagnation. Most people worry more about what they stand to lose than what they could gain, so they hold back. But success requires a "play to win" mindset that values progress over comfort. By thinking bigger, we open doors we didn’t realise were there.
Key Takeaway: Aim for progress, not perfection. Playing to win leads to growth; playing to avoid failure keeps you stuck.
5. Sacrifice Comfort, Not Potential
If you’re unwilling to make sacrifices for your goals, those goals will eventually slip away. Comfort is tempting, but it usually trades long-term success for short-term satisfaction. People who truly succeed are those willing to forgo momentary ease to achieve something meaningful. It’s not the easiest choice, but it’s the one that leads to real progress.
Key Takeaway: Short-term sacrifices create long-term success. Commit to growth over comfort to avoid sacrificing your potential.
Final Thoughts
Thinking about these ideas has been a reminder that most of what we think is “holding us back” is really just the result of our own choices. It’s a bit confronting, but honestly, also freeing. If every excuse and hesitation is costing me time, then the choice to push forward is in my hands. Knowing that I can make real progress just by getting past those everyday excuses is motivating in a different way. Instead of hoping for the “right opportunity” or a “perfect moment,” I’m realising that the work itself, the practice of moving forward, is where growth actually happens.
The idea that comfort is often a short-term gain with long-term consequences really sticks with me. It’s tempting to choose what feels easy now, but I’d rather look back and feel proud of the effort I put in than regret the times I held back. When we’re willing to risk a little discomfort for the sake of progress, we start to create a different path for ourselves. It’s not always easy, but each small step, each deliberate choice, builds up to something meaningful. This week, I’m choosing to lean into that. I hope these insights help you see the power of your choices too and inspire you to invest in what really matters.
Until next time,
Alex
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