Podcast Summary: Build with Leila Hormozi – "Step Up When Things Feel Hard | Ep 240"

Episode Information:

• Title: Step Up When Things Feel Hard | Ep 240
• Host: Leila Hormozi
• Release Date: February 12, 2025
• Podcast Description: Leila Hormozi shares invaluable lessons from scaling big businesses and nurturing acquisition.com into a billion-dollar portfolio. This episode delves into leadership during challenging times, maintaining company culture, and personal growth amidst adversity.

Introduction

In episode 240 of Build with Leila Hormozi, titled "Step Up When Things Feel Hard," Leila delves deep into the essence of leadership, especially during turbulent times. Drawing from her extensive experience in growing acquisition.com and scaling businesses to over $100 million by the age of 28, Leila offers actionable insights and personal anecdotes that resonate with entrepreneurs and leaders alike.

The Essence of Leadership in Adversity

Leila begins by addressing a universal truth about leadership: "Leadership is not about showing up when it's easy. It's about stepping up when everything feels hard." (00:00)

Key Points:

• Universal Call to Leadership: Leadership transcends business and permeates all aspects of life. Everyone is called to lead at some point.
• Facing Challenges: Whether it's a struggling business, a distracted team, or personal chaos, true leadership shines when navigating through these difficulties.

Maintaining Company Culture Amid Rapid Growth

Rapid expansion can strain a company's culture, leading to issues like gossiping and shady behaviors. Leila shares her personal experience managing such challenges.

Notable Quote:

"I had to step up and remind everybody, what do we stand for? I had to make it clear what was acceptable, what was unacceptable." (00:00)

Key Points:

• Proactive Culture Management: As companies grow quickly, reinforcing and maintaining core values becomes paramount.
• Tough Conversations: Addressing cultural breaches is uncomfortable but necessary to prevent long-term issues.
• Consequences and Clarity: Clearly outlining acceptable behaviors and the repercussions of violations helps in setting firm boundaries.

The Three Core Principles for Leading When Things Are Hard

Leila outlines three fundamental principles that guide her leadership during challenging times:

1. No Perfect Solutions

Leila emphasizes the importance of taking action without waiting for the perfect solution.

Notable Quotes:

• "I used to think that solving problems required finding the perfect solution. Until I had found the perfect solution, I couldn't move on." (00:00)
• "Champions don't wait for perfect conditions. Champions pursue challenges in the face of imperfect conditions." (00:00)

Key Points:

• Imperfection is Inevitable: Waiting for flawless solutions leads to stagnation as new problems emerge continuously.
• Action Over Perfection: Moving forward with solutions that address approximately 70% of the problem allows for progress, while 100% perfection remains unattainable.
• Volume and Repetition: Building a strong culture involves consistent reinforcement, repetition, and continuous improvement rather than seeking one-off perfect fixes.

2. Leadership is Tested When Things are Hard

Leadership's true mettle is revealed during crises and challenging periods.

Notable Quotes:

• "Leadership is about being calm in the storm. It is not easy." (00:00)
• "I'm the rock. I am their rock. If I falter, so does the team." (00:00)

Key Points:

• Steadiness as a Leader: Demonstrating confidence and stability provides hope and direction to the team, especially when uncertainties loom.
• Personal Resilience: Even on days when Leila feels burnt out or unmotivated, she recognizes the importance of presenting unwavering strength to her team.
• Analogy with Horse Taming: Just as a trainer must focus on the horse's movements to guide it effectively, leaders must direct their focus towards future goals and solutions, not past mistakes or immediate chaos.
• Anti-Fragility Over Resilience: Beyond merely bouncing back, anti-fragile leaders emerge stronger from adversity by transforming challenges into growth opportunities.

3. Embrace Growth by Letting Go of Control

Leila discusses the necessity of relinquishing the illusion of control to foster growth.

Notable Quotes:

• "It's not about exerting more control. It's about leaning into the fact that you can't control it." (00:00)
• "Culture is like a diet. It's easy to lose weight when you have total control. But life doesn't work that way, and neither does leadership." (00:00)

Key Points:

• Control vs. Growth: Attempting to manage every detail can stifle innovation and adaptability. Embracing uncertainty allows for organic growth and resilience.
• Healthy Relationship with Ambiguity: Accepting that not everything can be controlled or predicted is crucial for navigating complex business landscapes.
• Wrangling Chaos: Leaders must manage and adapt to chaos rather than eliminate it, understanding that unpredictability is a constant in both business and life.

Personal Anecdotes and Examples

Leila shares poignant stories to illustrate her principles:

• Crisis Management: Recalling a time when her team was drowning in performance issues and uncertainty, Leila maintained a confident front, becoming the stabilizing force her team needed.

  "If I'm steady, the team has hope. If I show up with doubt or hesitation, they lose trust and momentum." (00:00)

• COVID-19 Impact: Despite initial stress, COVID-19 ultimately strengthened her company's culture, transforming the team into a cohesive unit that could weather any storm together.

  "We went through things together that we would not have gone through had that not happened." (00:00)

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Leila Hormozi's episode underscores that true leadership is defined not by ease but by the ability to navigate and lead through hardships. Her three core principles—embracing imperfect solutions, being a steady rock during crises, and letting go of excessive control—provide a robust framework for leaders aiming to build resilient and unshakeable businesses.

Final Thoughts:

• Self-Reflection: Leaders should continuously assess whether their actions enhance their respect and effectiveness.
• Progress Through Action: Identifying and addressing problems proactively is essential for overcoming fear and fostering growth.
• Cultural Strengthening: Crises present unique opportunities to solidify and strengthen company culture, turning temporary chaos into long-term cohesion and resilience.

"A leader's greatest opportunity to build culture is during crisis. And culture is not what you say you are. Culture is what you show you are." (00:00)

Leila concludes by urging leaders to confront their challenges head-on, reinforcing that the true measure of leadership lies in the ability to remain steadfast and inspire growth, even when the path is fraught with difficulties.

Timestamp Reference:

• All quotes marked with (MM:SS) in the transcript are referenced at [00:00](#timestamp) for clarity and context within this summary.