In this episode, the host warmly introduces his friend and guest, Alex Hermosi, a highly successful entrepreneur who has built and exited companies worth over $120 million and currently oversees a portfolio generating over $200 million in annual revenue. They delve into the importance of owning one's future, with Hermosi sharing his philosophy on high agency and the journey of redefining personal meaning, unlearning others' imposed interpretations of the world. They discuss the power of actions in shaping mindset and the significance of taking action despite fear or doubt, using personal anecdotes to illustrate the struggle with insecurities and external judgments. Hermosi emphasizes the need to accumulate proof of one's capabilities, and both speakers touch on the mental exercises to reframe fears and uncertainties, such as considering worst-case scenarios and the concept of becoming a "veteran" of one's experiences. They conclude by highlighting the importance of making bold decisions in the present to avoid future regrets.
"If you have nothing going for you, it's another way of saying that you have nothing to lose. And so it means that you have endless shots on goal, and so you should be the most prone to taking action because there's nothing holding you back."
This quote emphasizes the idea that a lack of assets or advantages should not be a deterrent but rather a motivator for taking risks and seizing opportunities.
"And today to say the show is a friend. I think everybody says that when they first do an interview. This is my buddy, Alex, our guest, who I'll interview here in a minute. And I met via text, and we spent, like six months or a year getting to know each other."
This quote details the beginning of a friendship between the host and Alex Hermosi, highlighting the importance of communication and shared experiences in forming bonds.
"He is truly one of the smartest marketers I've ever met. Smartest businessman. He is an incredible husband. He's a dear friend. He's a good human being, and I'm so glad we got to know each other."
The host's quote praises Alex Hermosi's professional and personal qualities, illustrating a holistic view of success that encompasses both business acumen and character.
"And that hit me. And I watched everybody's comment was like, oh, my God. Because you don't think about that. Your career could own you. Your old beliefs could own you. Your current income, because you're not stretching yourself to finally launch that business you were going to could be owning you."
This quote conveys the idea that if you do not actively take charge of your future, external factors, such as your career or ingrained beliefs, will control it for you.
"My goal personally, has been to dissect decisions and think, like, is this a decision that I'm making because I believe this, or because of what I want other people to think about me as a result of this decision?"
This quote reflects the speaker's introspective process of distinguishing between decisions based on personal beliefs and those influenced by the opinions of others.
"Wherever I point the finger of blame is also where the power follows. It's like, power follows blame."
The quote highlights the relationship between blame and power, suggesting that assigning blame is also a way of giving away control.
"But really, when you go up to that next level, there are things sabotaging us today that were put in our lives by parents, by a teacher, by an experience, by a bad relationship."
This quote stresses the importance of understanding and addressing the root causes of personal challenges to achieve lasting success and fulfillment.
I define power as just, like, influence over someone else's events, things, people, et cetera.
This quote defines power in the context of the influence one has over others, which is relevant to the theme as it highlights the importance of recognizing who has power over one's decisions.
will I let this person stop me from exiting this company?
This question illustrates the speaker's process of acknowledging and then rejecting external influence in order to make an independent decision about selling a business.
most insecurities belong to someone else.
This quote emphasizes that the root of our insecurities is often based on what we believe others think of us, which is central to understanding how to overcome them.
who owns this insecurity of mine and why did I inherit it?
By asking this question, the speaker suggests a method for identifying the source of an insecurity and the reason behind its influence.
proof is the best type of evidence for a trait.
The speaker suggests that tangible evidence of one's abilities is more convincing than simply claiming to possess certain traits.
my goal in life has always been to stack as much proof as I possibly can to support that I am who I say I am.
This quote highlights the speaker's strategy for building confidence and self-assurance through accumulating evidence of their capabilities.
If you ever want to have the video version of this, which usually has more effects, more visuals, more graphs, drawn out stuff, sometimes it can help hit the brain centers in different ways.
This quote provides information about additional resources available for the audience, suggesting that different formats can enhance comprehension and retention of the content discussed in the podcast.
"Can I stack enough evidence to give enough proof that I am who I say I am?"
This quote encapsulates the speaker's strategy of building credibility through evidence, which is crucial for making confident decisions.
"When you want to make a decision, if you stack enough proof, you look at the evidence and you say, I'm going to be pragmatic and say, I did it here, I'm going to do it here."
Alex Hermosi is explaining the process of using past achievements as a foundation for making future decisions, emphasizing a pragmatic approach.
"They're pretending they're moving forward, but they're actually looking for evidence of it not working."
This quote reflects the notion that some individuals may unconsciously look for reasons to validate their lack of success, instead of focusing on achieving their goals.
"You're just never going to succeed."
This quote, used in a reverse psychology manner, is meant to challenge individuals to confront their self-doubt and motivate them to prove it wrong.
"There's no advantage to being overestimated unless you're weak."
This quote suggests that being underestimated can be a strategic advantage, as it allows for more freedom to take risks without the burden of high expectations.
"What if you let your actions determine your mindset?"
Alex Hermosi is proposing a shift in perspective where actions are used to influence and change one's mindset, rather than allowing a fixed mindset to dictate actions.
"My fear is getting to the end of my life and not having accomplished those and then think, like, I guess I wasn't good enough to do that thing."
This quote reveals a personal fear of not living up to one's potential and the motivational aspect of such fears in striving for greater achievements.
"If the actions lead to the mindset, then it means that the actions give you the evidence of the mindset you should have."
This quote underlines the idea that actions can and should be used to cultivate the mindset of a successful person, as they provide concrete proof of one's capabilities.
"The insecurities that come out, I'm going broke. I'm done. It's over. Can I borrow money?"
This quote shows friends joking about financial insecurities, which reflects genuine concerns they may have about their economic stability.
"We joke, oh, my God. What if the dollar collapses? What if this country keeps. The media and politicians keep making us think we should hate each other, and we're so polarized that we're not focusing on the big prize."
The quote illustrates how humor is used to discuss serious societal issues like economic instability and political polarization.
"But there's so many things right now that have been uncertain, especially since COVID happened three years ago. The rules of the game seem to be changing, and I think it's caused this level of uncertainty and fear that, again, I said earlier, when you're under pressure, you kind of resort back."
This quote acknowledges the increased uncertainty and fear due to the changing environment post-COVID, affecting decision-making processes.
"One of them is I try and play out the absolute hypothetical worst scenario, right? And so the worst scenario is I die, okay. Then I won't be worried about it because I'll be dead, right."
This quote explains a mental exercise where considering the worst possible outcome, such as death, can put current worries into perspective, as one would not be concerned in that ultimate scenario.
"All of those things presuppose a single assumption, which is that your circumstances dictate your mood or your happiness."
The quote challenges the assumption that external circumstances are the primary determinants of one's mood or happiness, suggesting that internal factors play a more significant role.
"And so if your mind can mentally weather itself to get to that point, then it means that you can apply that same frame to this moment."
The quote suggests that by mentally preparing oneself for adversity, one can better handle current inconveniences or challenges.
"Imagine meeting the person you could have been at the end of your life."
This quote encourages individuals to consider the regret they might feel if they do not live up to their potential, which can be a powerful motivator for taking action in the present.