Study the 1%, not the status quo

“I think my constant fiddling and meddling with the status quo may have been one of my biggest contributions to the later success of Wal-Mart.” – Sam Walton

 

To be the 1%, you can’t think or operate like the 99%

  • Normal people
    • “Money doesn’t bring you happiness”
      • It’s being translated differently (like 2 people seeing a movie)
    • “You need to know somebody to get in”
      • Vs “become someone people want to know”
    • “You’re not better than anyone else”
      • Mike Tyson’s trainer didn’t say that to him

 

Normal people think normal thoughts, that’s why they have a normal life.

 

Successful people think crazy thoughts, that’s why they have the life people dream of

 

People will talk about you behind your back if you’re not ‘status quo’

  • Be ok with being called weird, crazy, nerdy
  • “Lions don’t lose sleep over the opinions of sheep”

 

Story: I looked at entertainers on the forum and asked “Do I want to be like them?”

  • I stopped posting, talking to them, etc
  • To them, $2,500 for a show was a lot
  • Look at a person’s momentum

 

Develop the level of thinking that allows you to accomplish your goals

  • Great people have intense thoughts…that allows them to become great
  • Kobe – “I’m going to beat you so bad I’m going to make you question your career choice”

 

Whatever you put in your brain becomes true for you

  • Assume your thoughts are true
  • If you say “I need money to start” then it’s true
  • If you say “I’ll figure out how to get the money to start” then it’s true

 

What do your thoughts do to you

  • Ex: Luck  
    • Starting – “No such thing”
    • Successful – “I got lucky”
  • Ex: Arrogance/Confidence
    • “I’m the greatest” – gives you confidence to do it

 

THOUGHTS AFRAID TO SHARE

If you don’t think thoughts that you’re afraid to share, you’re not thinking big enough or intense enough  to accomplish what you want

  • Think wild and crazy thoughts
  • “The vast majority of you are far too nice to ever be rich” – Felix Dennis
    • Ex: You don’t turn down invites, etc
    • You don’t set out to be disliked, you’re just not phased if people don’t like you

 

MOST THOUGHTS = DISAGREEABLE WITH STATUS QUO

If most of your thoughts aren’t disagreeable with the status quo, you don’t stand a chance being in the 1%

  • All successful people have been called arrogant…by the status quo
    • b/c status quo can’t identify with 1%er’s
    • To accomplish great things = believe you’re great enough to do it

 

You need a level of confidence that borderlines on arrogance

  • Self-belief comes from competence
  • Not about being ‘above’ someone, it’s about being ‘different’ than someone

 

Your thoughts are meant for YOU, not everyone else

  • Crazy thoughts = keep to yourself
  • Ex: Interviewer “Where do you see yourself in 3 years”
    • You “I’ll have your job”
    • WRONG! – keep that to yourself

 

Shut out the noise that gets you nowhere

  • Not all advice is useful to you
    • Ex: “His family gave him money so it’s easier”

 

Read biographies to get a realistic picture of 1%er’s

  • Study athletes = easier to see the competitiveness
  • Most real thoughts are kept close to the vest
    • Why are Billionaires quiet?
  • Study ALL angles (good, bad, ugly) of successful people
    • NOBODY is all good
  • Listen closely to interviews
  • EMPATHIZE – Mirror Neurons
    • Ex: Elon Musk 420 Tweet. Told my mom he lied b/c I felt the same
  • Don’t judge them, understand them
    • Agree or disagree is irrelevant
    • If you call someone arrogant who deserves success, you’re judging greatness
      • Ex: Floyd Mayweather deserves his confidence

 

To be the 1% you can’t study the status quo