“How To Go From $0 to Millionaire” | Leila Hormozi’s Guide To NOT Being Broke

Added: Jun 24, 2024

In this podcast episode, Leila Hormozi, entrepreneur and CEO of Acquisition.com opens up about her troubled past, including being arrested six times within a two-year period and her tumultuous relationship with her alcoholic and drug-addicted mother.

Early Life Challenges

Hormozi's childhood was marked by the struggles of living with an alcoholic and drug-addicted mother. She kept this a secret from her father, as she didn't want to hurt her mother. Despite the challenging circumstances, she took care of her mother and herself, developing a sense of responsibility at a young age. When she finally revealed the situation to her father and moved in with him, she felt a sense of freedom but also carried a lot of anger and anxiety from her past experiences.

Turning Point

Hormozi's downward spiral began in her late teens and early twenties when she turned to alcohol and partying to cope with her emotions. However, after her sixth arrest, she reached a breaking point. The humiliation and shame she felt after waking up at her parents' house with a ticket from the previous night's arrest made her realize that she didn't want to continue down that destructive path. She looked at herself in the mirror and decided that she needed to change her life.

Facing Fear and Making Changes

Hormozi attributes her ability to change her life to her willingness to face her fears and confront her past traumas. She had learned to cope with fear and pain from a young age, which gave her the strength to make a positive change in her life. She emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility and finding a reason bigger than oneself to overcome fear and make significant changes.

Healing from Trauma

Hormozi's healing journey involved setting boundaries with her mother and trying to maintain a relationship despite her mother's struggles with addiction. However, the breaking point came when her stepfather blamed Hormozi for her mother's issues, leading Hormozi to realize that she couldn't continue to subject herself to the toxic dynamics. She made the difficult decision to cut off contact with her mother, prioritizing her own well-being and mental health.

Understanding Human Behavior

Hormozi delves into her study of behavioral psychology and how it has helped her in running her business. She emphasizes the importance of understanding how thoughts and feelings work and how they can impact one's actions. She explains that many people struggle to change their lives because they have a poor relationship with their thoughts and feelings, leading to irrational fears and behaviors. By educating herself on the workings of the brain, she has been able to manage her own thoughts and feelings and help others do the same.

Overcoming Overthinking

Hormozi shares her experience as an overthinker and offers advice on how to combat overthinking. She highlights the importance of taking action instead of getting caught in a negative thought spiral. By distracting oneself with other tasks and taking small steps towards uncertainty, individuals can break free from the cycle of overthinking. She encourages people to test their theories and not seek certainty in every situation, as uncertainty is a natural part of life.

Thought Diffusion

One of the key concepts Hormozi emphasizes is thought diffusion, which involves separating thoughts from actions. She explains that many people struggle with compulsive behaviors because they immediately act on their thoughts. By creating space from a thought and questioning its validity, individuals can gain perspective and make more intentional decisions. Thought diffusion allows individuals to see thoughts as sentences in their minds rather than directives that must be followed.

Hormozi stresses the importance of recognizing when a thought triggers stress or anxiety and taking steps to diffuse it. By challenging the validity of the thought and considering evidence against it, individuals can gain control over their thoughts and actions. This process allows for a more rational approach to decision-making and helps individuals avoid impulsive behaviors driven by negative thoughts. She encourages individuals to weigh the consequences of acting on a thought and consider whether it will benefit or harm them in the long run.

Negative Thoughts and Procrastination

Hormozi highlights the significance of leaving negative thoughts alone and not giving them too much attention. She mentions how reinforcing certain thoughts can lead to a cycle of overthinking and anxiety. She also shares her personal experience of feeling overwhelmed by negative thoughts and the urge to escape them by taking action. She suggests that sometimes the best approach is to do nothing and let the thoughts pass naturally.

Regarding procrastination, Hormozi explains that it often stems from a desire to avoid anxiety, boredom, or rebellion. She advises individuals who struggle with procrastination to fuse their thoughts with actions and find ways to address the underlying reasons for avoiding tasks. She emphasizes the importance of taking action and not letting procrastination hinder progress.

Weight Management and Diet Culture

Hormozi delves into the topic of weight management and the impact of diet culture on individuals' perceptions of food and body image. She shares her journey of being overweight and the behavioral changes she made to achieve a healthier lifestyle. She discusses the role of compulsive eating in weight gain and emphasizes the need for portion control and mindful eating habits.

She also addresses the prevalence of processed foods and the quantity of food consumed as contributing factors to weight gain. Hormozi challenges the notion that genetics or external factors solely determine one's weight, highlighting the importance of personal responsibility and behavioral changes in achieving a healthy body weight. She advocates for a balanced approach to diet and exercise, focusing on nourishing the body and finding what works best for individual goals and preferences.

Balancing Mental and Physical Health

Hormozi shares her experiences with extreme dieting practices and the negative impact they had on his mental and physical well-being. She discusses the importance of finding a balance between mental and physical health when it comes to diet and fitness. She acknowledges the challenges of navigating the diet industry's conflicting messages and encourages individuals to prioritize their overall well-being over strict adherence to dietary rules.

She emphasizes the need to listen to one's body and make choices that align with personal values and goals. Hormozi advocates for a holistic approach to health that considers both mental and physical aspects, rather than focusing solely on external factors or societal norms. She encourages individuals to explore different approaches to diet and exercise, finding what works best for them while maintaining a healthy relationship with food and body image.

Sales Skills and Importance of Conviction

Hormozi emphasizes the importance of sales skills in achieving success. She believes that learning how to sell is a fundamental skill that can lead to success in various endeavors. She highlights the significance of having conviction in what you are selling, as customers can sense authenticity and passion. She mentions that the best salespeople are often those who truly believe in the product or service they are selling. She also warns against relying on sales tactics and tricks to compensate for a lack of conviction.

Impact of AI on Sales

When discussing the potential impact of AI on sales, Hormozi acknowledges that AI technology could change the sales industry. She mentions that while AI may be more suitable for lower ticket, high transaction sales, it may not replace the need for human sales professionals in complex, high-value sales scenarios. She expresses interest in exploring AI tools for sales but emphasizes the importance of maintaining authenticity and integrity in the sales process.

Finding Opportunities and Building Relationships

Hormozi shares a personal anecdote about how she discovered a business opportunity through a chance encounter with a neighbor in an elevator. This encounter led to a friendship and eventually an investment in a company that trades appointments online. She highlights the importance of building relationships and being open to new opportunities, as they can lead to unexpected ventures and collaborations.

Setting and Challenging Goals

Hormozi discusses her goal of reaching a billion dollars and explains that she now considers this target too small. She expresses a desire to aim for higher financial milestones, such as 10 or 20 billion dollars, to challenge herself further. She views these goals not just as financial achievements but as markers of personal growth and competitive greatness. She believes that setting ambitious goals push her to become a better version of herself and to make a greater impact on the community.

Mentorship and Learning from Others

While Hormozi acknowledges the value of having mentors in the early stages of one's journey, she mentions that she currently relies on her team and peers for guidance and support. She emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with knowledgeable individuals and learning from their experiences. She also highlights the role of continuous learning and self-improvement in achieving success.

Time Management and Work Ethic

Hormozi discusses her work schedule, which often involves long hours and a structured approach to managing her time. She emphasizes the importance of theming her days to focus on specific tasks, such as meetings, content creation, and deep work. She also highlights the significance of balancing work with breaks, exercise, and personal time. She mentions the impact of caffeine on her energy levels and how she has transitioned to drinking decaf to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Building a Positive Work Environment

Hormozi talks about the benefits of having an office space where employees can collaborate and engage with one another. She describes the sense of community and camaraderie that has developed among her team members, leading to a positive work environment. Shementions the importance of culture, leadership, and personal development in fostering a supportive workplace.

Navigating Traditional Gender Roles

Hormozi reflects on the pressure she has felt regarding traditional gender roles, both in her personal life and business. She discusses how she and her husband Alex have defined their roles within their marriage, with her taking on more traditional responsibilities at home. She addresses the external judgment she has faced for not conforming to societal expectations, such as having children. She shares her internal debate about motherhood, citing reasons related to purpose, autonomy, and work-life balance.

Business Partnership and Growth

Hormozi provides insights into the operations of Acquisition.com, a family office that invests in companies and provides guidance for their growth. She discusses the role of mentorship, advice, and tools in supporting businesses under their portfolio. She emphasizes the importance of building a strong business foundation and culture before expanding into new ventures.

Challenges and Personal Growth

Hormozi reflects on the challenges she has faced as an entrepreneur, including managing multiple businesses, dealing with external judgment, and balancing work and personal life. She shares how she has learned to prioritize her time, delegate tasks, and focus on what truly drives the business forward. She discusses her personal growth journey, from overcoming fears of being on camera to finding fulfillment in mentoring and developing her team members.

Videos

Full episode

Episode summary