Podcast Summary: The Game with Alex Hormozi
Episode: STOP Following Your Passion | 854
Release Date: March 20, 2025
Host: Alex Hormozi
Introduction: Challenging Conventional Wisdom
In Episode 854 of "The Game with Alex Hormozi," host Alex Hormozi delves deep into the often-repeated advice to "follow your passion." Drawing inspiration from Ben Horowitz and Angela Duckworth, Hormozi systematically dismantles this piece of conventional wisdom, presenting a compelling argument against it. He emphasizes that his stance is not rooted in a mere pursuit of wealth but in a nuanced understanding of personal and professional development.
"Following your passion keeps people poor, or at least poorer than they ought to be."
— Alex Hormozi [00:02]
The Development of Passion: Competence Precedes Passion
Hormozi begins by exploring the genesis of passion, referencing Angela Duckworth's research on "grit." He explains that passion often emerges after achieving competence through deliberate practice, not beforehand. This challenges the common belief that passion drives competence.
Key Points:
- Initial Discovery: Exposure to an interest, often by chance.
- Deliberate Practice: Engaging in focused, repetitive practice to build competence.
- Value Recognition: Realizing the worth of newly acquired skills.
- Mastery and Passion: Continuous improvement leads to mastery, which in turn fosters genuine passion.
**"Competence plus time leads to passion."
— Alex Hormozi [04:30]
Why "Follow Your Passion" is Bad Advice
Hormozi articulates nine primary reasons why the advice to follow your passion is misguided:
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Reverses Cause and Effect
- Passion often results from becoming good at something, not the other way around.
- Quote:
"You get rich, and then as a result of being rich, you can fly private. It's not that flying private's the reason that you're rich."
— Alex Hormozi [05:10]
-
Too Vague and Assumes a Clear Passion
- Many individuals lack a clear, singular passion, making the advice impractical.
- Example: Bill Gates explored various fields before finding his direction.
-
Liking Doesn't Equal Skill
- Enjoying an activity doesn't guarantee competence, which is crucial for success.
- Example: Gym owners passionate about fitness often struggle financially due to lack of business skills.
-
Skips the Hard Work
- Achieving mastery requires engaging in tedious, repetitive tasks that are rarely enjoyable.
- Quote:
"All the research on deliberate practice shows that it's not an enjoyable process."
— Alex Hormozi [15:45]
-
Sets False Expectations
- The notion that work should always be fun leads to disappointment, as all jobs have their mundane aspects.
- Quote:
"Never try to make money out of something you love, he said, because then you'll just ruin it and turn it into work."
— Alex Hormozi [19:00]
-
Ignores Money Realities
- Passionate pursuits often don't generate sufficient income, making financial stability a challenge.
- Example: American Idol tryouts illustrate the high competition and low financial returns for passionate singers.
-
Misses More Important Life Aspects
- Factors like decent pay, good coworkers, recognition, security, and purpose are crucial for job satisfaction.
- Quote:
"Good work needs decent pay, good coworkers, good recognition, security, and purpose."
— Alex Hormozi [24:30]
-
Doesn't Allow Flexibility in a Changing World
- Personal interests and global trends evolve, making a rigid passion-based career path unsustainable.
- Example: Early 2000s passion for MySpace pages would be obsolete today.
-
Self-Focused Rather Than Others-Focused
- Focusing on serving others leads to greater fulfillment and resilience than pursuing self-centered passions.
- Quote:
"The way you approach the work you do can fundamentally change the work itself."
— Alex Hormozi [28:50]
Stories and Illustrative Examples
Hormozi enriches his arguments with several anecdotes:
-
Japanese Stonecutters:
Three stonecutters perform the same task with different mindsets—cutting stone, earning a living, and building a cathedral—which drastically changes their experience of the work."All three men are doing the same work, but fundamentally having an entirely different experience of what that work means to them."
— Alex Hormozi [28:10] -
Floor Sweeper:
A man sweeps floors not because he loves it but by imagining he's paid a million dollars daily, transforming his perception and approach to the mundane task. -
Waiter with a “Do Better” Tip Jar:
Instead of taking offense, a waiter improves his service, leading to better tips and opportunities by shifting his focus from himself to serving others.
Alternative Framework: Building Instead of Following Passion
Hormozi proposes a practical, action-oriented framework with six steps to cultivate a fulfilling career without the pressure of following an innate passion:
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Start with Curiosity, Not Passion
- Explore various interests to identify areas worth pursuing.
- Quote:
"Most successful people didn't start with a burning passion. They began with just simple curiosity."
— Alex Hormozi [35:20]
-
Embrace the Learning Process
- Commit to developing skills and achieving competence before expecting passion.
- Actionable Tip: Set specific, skill-oriented goals rather than waiting for motivation.
-
Value Your Existing Abilities
- Assess and build upon what you're already good at to create a sustainable career path.
- Reference: Warren Buffett's "circle of competence."
-
Commit to the Deliberate Process
- Engage in consistent, focused practice, even when it's not enjoyable.
- Quote:
"Commitment means the elimination of alternatives."
— Alex Hormozi [40:15]
-
Set Realistic Expectations
- Acknowledge that all work involves tedious aspects and aim for overall satisfaction rather than constant enjoyment.
- Example: Even dream jobs have administrative tasks and challenges.
-
Take the Reality of Money Seriously
- Recognize the importance of financial stability and its role in reducing pain and increasing opportunities.
- Alex’s Theory:
"Spending money is a skill. Money can continue to make you happier as you develop the skill of spending in a way that gets you better returns on intangible returns rather than tangible returns."
— Alex Hormozi [44:10]
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Prioritize Environmental Factors
- Surround yourself with supportive colleagues and an environment that fosters growth and feedback.
-
Allow Passions to Evolve
- Stay open to developing new interests as both you and the world around you change.
-
Connect Your Work to Serving Others
- Find purpose in how your work benefits others, enhancing motivation and resilience.
- Quote:
"You just want to find ways on how your work benefits other people."
— Alex Hormozi [47:55]
Conclusion: Passion as a Byproduct, Not a Starting Point
Hormozi concludes by reiterating that passion should emerge naturally from developing competence and finding purpose in serving others, rather than being the initial driving force. This approach not only leads to greater financial success but also fosters long-term fulfillment and adaptability in an ever-changing world.
"You just want to find a feedback loop. That's all we're looking for. You just want to find a place where you can do something and get feedback."
— Alex Hormozi [49:30]
Final Thoughts & Call to Action
Before wrapping up, Hormozi offers listeners a free scaling roadmap developed with his partner Layla, designed to help businesses grow through various stages across all functions. He emphasizes the importance of word-of-mouth in spreading valuable knowledge and invites listeners to share the podcast with those who might benefit from it.
Notable Quotes:
-
On Passion and Competence:
"Competence plus time leads to passion."
— Alex Hormozi [04:30] -
On Hard Work:
"All the research on deliberate practice shows that it's not an enjoyable process."
— Alex Hormozi [15:45] -
On Changing Perspectives:
"In my 20s, I thought it was about the destination. In my 30s, I thought it was about the journey. And in my 40s, I realized it's about the company."
— Alex Hormozi [23:15] -
On Serving Others:
"You just want to find ways on how your work benefits other people."
— Alex Hormozi [47:55]
This episode serves as a valuable resource for anyone contemplating career choices, urging listeners to focus on skill development, adaptability, and purpose-driven work rather than the elusive pursuit of passion.