Podcast Summary: "Rest, Don't Quit | Ep 283"
Podcast Information
- Title: Build with Leila Hormozi
- Host/Author: Leila Hormozi
- Description: How can you create an unshakeable business? My name is Leila Hormozi and I crossed $100M by the age of 28. Now I’m growing acquisition.com into a billion-dollar portfolio. In this podcast, I share the lessons I’ve learned in scaling big businesses and helping our portfolio companies do the same. Buckle up, Let's BUILD.
- Release Date: June 11, 2025
- Episode: Rest, Don't Quit | Ep 283
Introduction
In Episode 283 of "Build with Leila Hormozi," titled "Rest, Don't Quit," Leila delves deep into a personal and professional journey marked by significant health challenges and business struggles. This episode serves as a candid exploration of the importance of intentional rest, the misconceptions surrounding quitting, and the transformative lessons learned through adversity.
Personal Health Struggles
Leila begins by sharing her recent health battles, which have profoundly impacted both her personal life and her leadership role within her company.
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Health Challenges: Leila describes a series of debilitating illnesses that led to multiple surgeries and prolonged periods of recovery. She candidly admits, "I got sick multiple times. I got put on different medicines and antibiotics for the sickness, which caused more issues, which then caused infections, which then I had to get surgery, multiple surgeries, and it just fucking sucked" (00:40).
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Emotional Toll: The physical pain was compounded by emotional struggles, including feelings of vulnerability and embarrassment. Leila expresses, "Part of me feels vulnerable, weak. I guess you could describe all those things" (01:15).
Business Challenges Amidst Personal Struggles
Balancing severe health issues with business responsibilities proved to be an immense challenge for Leila.
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Operational Strain: Despite her health setbacks, Leila faced significant business hurdles, including managing multiple lawsuits and restructuring her executive team. She remarks, "I had multiple executives that I had to let go of, and then three new executives that I had to bring in. And this is all happening while I'm dealing with this" (03:10).
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Resilience Through Adversity: Leila highlights that these experiences have equipped her with unparalleled resilience and discipline, stating, "I don't think anything has equipped me more to help people in this community" (03:45).
The Importance of Intentional Rest
A central theme of the episode is the critical role that intentional rest plays in personal well-being and business sustainability.
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Rest vs. Quitting: Leila challenges the conventional association of rest with laziness and quitting. She clarifies, "Quitting is walking away because you don't want to finish... Resting is stepping back so that you can actually finish" (09:30).
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Personal Revelation: This distinction was a pivotal moment for Leila, allowing her to reframe her approach to both personal health and business management.
Implementing Change: Strategic Pausing
Leila discusses the strategic necessity of pausing in business operations to prevent burnout and ensure long-term success.
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Calendar Overhaul: To manage her time more effectively, Leila became "ruthless with my fucking calendar," eliminating non-essential meetings and delegating responsibilities. She notes, "If it's not the most effective for the business, it was off my calendar" (16:50).
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Team Empowerment: This shift not only alleviated her personal burden but also empowered her team to take on more responsibilities, fostering a stronger and more resilient organization.
Transitioning from Execution to Strategy
One of the significant lessons Leila imparts is the transition from being the execution engine of her business to becoming a strategic architect.
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Recognition of Strengths: Leila realized that her strengths lie in strategic decision-making rather than day-to-day execution. She states, "I have to level up and be the architect" (25:20).
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Leadership Evolution: This change has allowed her to lead more effectively, focusing on long-term vision and strategic growth rather than getting bogged down in operational tasks.
Developing Stillness as a Leadership Skill
Leila emphasizes the importance of cultivating stillness—a state of calm and presence—as a vital leadership skill.
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Power of Stillness: She explains, "When you are able to sit in stillness without crazy thoughts, without panic, without anxiety, like, it becomes where you find most of your power" (29:10).
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Strategic Thinking: By embracing stillness, Leila has unlocked enhanced strategic thinking and intuition, leading to better decision-making and leadership.
Final Insights and Encouragement
In concluding her episode, Leila offers actionable advice to fellow entrepreneurs and leaders grappling with similar challenges.
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Self-Reflection: She urges listeners to assess whether their business is overly dependent on their energy and to plan for intentional pauses. "Ask yourself this. What would happen if you paused right now?" (38:25).
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Empowerment Through Rest: Leila reinforces that rest should be integrated into business planning, not viewed as a weakness but as a strategic necessity for sustainable success.
Notable Quotes
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On Rest vs. Quitting:
"Quitting is walking away because you don't want to finish... Resting is stepping back so that you can actually finish." (09:30) -
On Leadership Transformation:
"I have to level up and be the architect." (25:20) -
On Stillness as Power:
"When you are able to sit in stillness without crazy thoughts, without panic, without anxiety, like, it becomes where you find most of your power." (29:10)
Conclusion
Episode 283 of "Build with Leila Hormozi" serves as a profound testament to the importance of self-care, strategic pausing, and leadership evolution. Through her personal trials, Leila not only navigates her path to recovery but also imparts invaluable lessons to entrepreneurs and leaders on sustaining success without sacrificing personal well-being. Her candid narrative underscores that true strength lies in knowing when to rest and how to empower others to carry the load, ultimately fostering a more resilient and thriving business ecosystem.
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