If You’re Ambitious But Lazy, Watch This — Transcript

I've been thinking a lot lately about how we live in an age of distraction and how people genuinely spend more time looking at a screen than thinking about their own reality. They always make excuses like, "I don't have time. I'll start next week." Sometimes you don't even have the ability to make excuses because you're too consumed in distraction to even know what you're not doing with your life. Odds are you're probably no different. You probably know exactly what you need to do for years. And odds are things probably aren't going to change unless you can actually fix the root cause.

start next week." Sometimes you don't even have the ability to make excuses because you're too consumed in distraction to even know what you're not doing with your life. Odds are you're probably no different. You probably know exactly what you need to do for years.

Why do you think so many people watch other people achieve things and won't actually go out there and do it themselves? Feel like it's easier to get that emotion that you like feeling from ambition from watching other people rather than having to do it yourself. If you continuously are consuming someone else rather than yourself doing something, you can almost just get away with that quick fake dopamine hit that you get. And I feel like people lie to themselves that doing nothing is better than doing something bad or doing nothing is better than failing because failing is terrifying. And then in doing the nothing they watch other people do it so they can at least kind of like keep a lie to themselves and until you're in this like really dark place where you're forced to face the truth. Then you're like, "Oh, wow."

Why do you think so many people watch other people achieve things and won't actually go out there and do it themselves.

Like, "I haven't been doing the thing that No, I should be doing." Being good or fulfilled or whatever doesn't just come obviously from not doing good things. But when you know there are things that you should be doing that are good for you, good for people around you, and you don't do them, that's bad.

with that quick fake dopamine hit that you get. And I feel like people lie to themselves that doing nothing is better than doing something bad or doing nothing is better than failing because failing is terrifying. And then in doing

The dream is really easy to love when it hasn't cost you anything yet. And before you've taken action, it hasn't cost you anything. I don't even think it's necessarily that people are lazy. I just think they're addicted to the idea of potential because it's super easy to sit there and say, "I have the potential to do it, but I just haven't done it yet." Versus, "No, I tried and I failed because I'm not good enough to do that." That's a [ __ ] gut punch right there.

Like, "I haven't been doing the thing that No, I should be doing." Being good or fulfilled or whatever doesn't just come obviously from not doing good things. But when you know there are things that you should be doing that are

Mhm. Where would you say the line is between consuming content and letting your life pass by and actually being motivated and inspired by what you're consuming?

The dream is really easy to love when it hasn't cost you anything yet. And before you've taken action, it hasn't cost you anything. I don't even think it's necessarily that people are lazy. I just think they're addicted to the idea of

I would say in a loose word, humility, because your ability to be honest with yourself, which I think is a huge part of humility.

Mhm. Where would you say the line is between consuming content and letting your life pass by and actually being motivated and inspired by what you're consuming.

So, if you're lying to yourself when you're consuming content, being like, "This is educating me, motivating me, pushing me towards doing that thing," but you're not actually doing the thing, only you know. So, you need the humility to be honest with yourself with that. And it's the intentionality behind what you're doing. Are you intentionally like, okay, in my clear mind, feeling good and motivated, this is what I'm going to do in the day to get me to where I want to be. I have a block of 30 minutes where I'm going to consume content that will either build my energy up, educate me, and drive me towards that. Or are you just like, oh, I got 10 minutes between this meeting and that meeting. I'm just going to mindlessly scroll. Are you stuck there for an hour? Think it's just the ability to be honest with yourself, not being a skinny [ __ ] What do you think in your experience stops most people from starting?

So, if you're lying to yourself when you're consuming content, being like, "This is educating me, motivating me, pushing me towards doing that thing, but you're not actually doing the thing, only you know." So, you need the humility to be honest with yourself with

A lot of things but top two that come to mind one most dramatic answer would be ignorance. I think people are ignorant to the fact of how important and the magnitude of the reality that life is so short and that we're going to die and they just think they have more time to do it and they know it but they don't understand it and believe it in their hearts enough to actually take on action on it which to me is proof that they don't really know it cuz someone sat you down and you could really sit there and believe like you have one chance to do something and it is going to be the most important thing that you ever do for your entire existence and all you have to do is put your best effort into it and it will be fruitful, be fulfilling, it will be amazing.

minutes where I'm going to consume content that will either build my energy up, educate me, and drive me towards that. Or are you just like, oh, I got 10 minutes between this meeting and that meeting. I'm just going to mindlessly

You like that it's like well duh, I'm going to do it. But like that's what your life is. But people don't understand that. So one day they're going to die and they're going to sit there and be like [ __ ] did I give everything I had? Probably not. You know, you only have one shot. You're all in on life. So you might as well make it the most spectacular thing that you can possibly make it. Which brings me to point number two, which is the other thing holding you back is their self-image. I'm a huge belief believer in the idea that you have an inherited self-image about yourself that comes from how you were raised. Your brain was formed watching people do things and that became your reality of what's possible and what's normal. Next thing you know, you have these belief systems, these limiting beliefs from your past that make you think you're not capable of more. And it's very hard to break that self-image because over time it becomes what you're comfortable with. It becomes the people you surround yourself with. That's what they know you for. So to be able to break that is like a form of death.

a lot of things but top two that come to mind one most dramatic answer would be ignorance I think people are ignorant to the fact of how important and the magnitude of the reality that life is so short and that we're going to die and

Realistically when people talk about an ego death that's breaking your self-image because to you that was the self that you created to fit into an environment. As humans we're built to fit into an environment to have a community so we don't go out and die. So to let go of that feel like you're going to die.

don't really know it cuz someone sat you down and you could really sit there and believe like you have one chance to do something and it is going to be the most important thing that you ever do for

But we live in a modern day where if people are holding you back, you can move on and find better people who support you. Because what you believe in your mind is possible is not true. It's just what you've learned from the past.

You like that it's like well duh, I'm going to do it. But like that's what your life is. But people don't understand that. So one day they're going to die and they're going to sit there and be like [ __ ] did I give

It's not objective reality. It's subjective ideas. So you got to break past that [ __ ] Make your own reality.

thing holding you back is their self-image. I'm a huge belief believer in the idea that you have an inherited self-image about yourself that comes from how you were raised. Your brain was formed watching people do things and that became your reality of what's

Why do you think people would rather play it safe than take risks chasing their dream?

comfortable with. It becomes the people you surround yourself with. That's what they know you for. So to be able to break that is like a form of death.

So it comes down to fear. They're afraid of many things. They're afraid of failure. And I think in that sense, if you're not looking at things, again, you can be ignorant. But what you don't realize is that if you're not aligning yourself with anything, then you're just always failing. And you don't realize that until it's too late. Most people do not have a stable sense of self-worth.

so we don't go out and die. So to let go of that feel like you're going to die.

So they attach it to things around themselves. Myself included. Done this my whole life. Working on it still. But when you attach your self-worth to something you are working on, then that failure feels like your self-worth is diminished. So when people don't have that stable sense of self-worth, they're much more afraid to actually go out and take action. It's easy to say people are afraid of failure. And then there's that famous quote from Coach Carter. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, it's that we are powerful beyond measure. If you accept that you are powerful beyond measure and that you are capable of much more, what you are also admitting is that you are currently a failure or you are currently failing. So instead of sitting there being like, you know, I'm capable of so much [ __ ] more than I'm doing. I have a four hour screen time.

It's not objective reality. It's subjective ideas. So you got to break past that [ __ ] Make your own reality.

Imagine if I said it's four hours of my day working my ass off towards a goal because someone else is doing it. I want this thing, but someone else is working harder than me. If I believe I'm capable of that, well then in my [ __ ] position right now, looking back at the last five, five years of my life, we're like, what the [ __ ] was I doing? I just wasted all that [ __ ] time doing nothing. But unless you can look at that reality and use guilt as feedback to push yourself forward rather than the shame as identity is you can't do it.

So it comes down to fear. They're afraid of many things. They're afraid of failure. And I think in that sense, if you're not looking at things, again, you can be ignorant. But what you don't realize is that if you're not aligning

You're going to be stuck. So you got to realize you're capable of way you [ __ ] know. You're just afraid to admit it. That's going to suck. It's going to hurt. It's going to be embarrass.

So they attach it to things around themselves. Myself included. Done this my whole life. Working on it still. But when you attach your self-worth to something you are working on, then that failure feels like your self-worth is diminished. So

when people don't have that stable sense of selfworth, they're much more afraid to actually go out and take action. It's easy to say people are afraid of failure. And then there's that famous quote from Coach Carter. Our deepest

fear is not that we are inadequate, it's that we are powerful beyond measure. If you accept that you are powerful beyond measure and that you are capable of much more, what you are also admitting is that you are currently a failure or you

are currently failing. So instead of sitting there being like, you know, I'm capable of so much [ __ ] more than I'm doing. I have a four hour screen time.

Imagine if I said it's four hours of my day working my ass off towards a goal because someone else is doing it. I want this thing, but someone else is working harder than me. If I believe I'm capable

of that, well then in my [ __ ] position right now, looking back at the last five, five years of my life, we're like, what the [ __ ] was I doing? I just wasted all that [ __ ] time doing

nothing. But unless you can look at that reality and use guilt as feedback to push yourself forward rather than the shame as identity is you can't do it.

You're going to be stuck. So you got to realize you're capable of way you [ __ ] know. You're just afraid to admit it. That's going to suck. It's going to hurt. It's going to be embarrassing to look back at your life.

But you need to be able to sit in that embarrassment and look at yourself. I am embarrassed of who I used to be. That's why I'm not going to be that person anymore. It's time for me to [ __ ]

change my life and actually take action. What does it cost long term if people keep acting from a position of fear?

Everything. Literally everything. I feel like it's obvious to think if you sit on the sideline your whole life, it's the direct path to a hollow, empty life. I also think people do not understand that getting [ __ ] done,

discipline in general, is a perishable skill. I have learned this myself as a slap in the face since retiring from the Olympia. It's like, cool, I can say I did all these things and I'm capable of discipline and holding myself

accountable for a long period of time and accomplishing incredible things. But unless I'm putting those things into action, my discipline is faded. Entropy rules our world. If you're not actively trying to grow or move forward, you're getting worse. There is no standing

still. Standing still means everything you want is moving away from you. There's two things actually from the Bible that I pulled inspiration from.

The idea that those who have more will be given more in abundance and those who have less will have it all taken away from them. Essentially, it's saying if you have more and you do more with it, you're going to get more. or you're

going to be rewarded for enjoying enjoying and appreciating and putting into action the fruit that you've been given. And if you have a little bit and you sit there and you don't take action on it, you will lose even that little

bit because that's just the way the universe works. If you have the potential, take responsibility of that.

Take action on it. Put the pressure on yourself of what that means to progress and move forward and then you will be given more. It doesn't have to be perfect. You don't have to have it all figured out. You just need to start

taking action. You need to understand that what you have, you should be grateful for the little bits that you do have. Use it and you will get more from it. You can't sit still, otherwise you're literally falling behind.

What's the thing that people are really protecting by staying on the sidelines the life that they currently know. I feel like they're protecting themselves from the fear of losing what they think is everything. And I'll go back to an

example of my life on this. When I was in high school through university, love to party, going out with the boys with priority numero uno. We just having a good time. And when I my bodybuilding career started to take off and I

realized it was taking away from that, I still lived in a house with five guys who partied three to four times a week.

up late sleeping in eating whatever they wanted A&W in Canada. And when I decided that I wanted to get to the Olympia and then win an Olympia and then take it further and further, I had to make the

decision that that life that I knew, the partying, those friends with people, my brothers who I love and I had such a good time with, trust me, like those days are fun. I had to choose in the middle of it, in the peak at the age of

20 to step away from all that and let go of all that. to move across the country, to leave those friends behind, for them to go out without me, to be sleeping in bed at 8:00 p.m. while I hear them

partying downstairs, to be letting go of all that. And it's scary because it's all that you know. It feels like you're losing your friends. Not everyone is going to support you in your goals. And it can make you feel extremely alone. If

you're like, I want to change this stuff. I want to get fit. I'm 200 lb overweight. Okay, well, I'm going to go to the gym. That's not a [ __ ] change in your life. That's one small habit.

You have to change everything about you. You have to let go of everything that made you into that person now to become someone new. Otherwise, it's not going to happen. So what people are holding on to, what they're protecting themselves

is loss of identity, loss of life that they currently know. The only way to change is to let go.

How do you solve for people being complacent and not taking risks in their life?

I feel like this is always that like debate of whether you need to take action first or believe you can first because it's hard to take action when you don't believe you can, but you don't believe you can until you take action.

So, it's like a chicken or the egg scenario. The reality is that you have to want to be bad. You have to switch your mindset of like, oh, this is embarrassing to no, I actually want to be bad at this because being bad at some

things means I'm taking action. You can't be bad at something you're not doing. Sitting on the couch doesn't mean you're bad at doesn't show you that you're bad at tennis. You have to get on the court and try and play tennis to be

bad at tennis. But from that point of action, you're at least at a starting point, which allows for progress. When I first started bodybuilding, I knew I was good in the gym. I could train alone at hours when no one was there until I was

good. Then I could train at busier times and I kind of worked my way up into these things. eating and all the stuff is done in private. You can practice posing in private. The training, you can go to a gym when it's empty, but

stepping on stage, there's no hiding from anyone from that. So, when I got to my first bodybuilding competition, I was backstage with my posing trunks on underneath just like terrified. I was like, oh my god. Like, didn't even know

I had to tan. They're like, "You have to tan." I'm like, "Do I have to get naked?

Like, what do I do?" Like, so much anxiety. Did all that. Then I put my clothes back on. I'm like sitting backstage and I was a junior in men's open bodybuilding and I was like, "Why the [ __ ] am I doing this? I don't know

why I'm doing this." I'm like just like hadn't practiced posing in front of anyone. I got on stage and I blacked out. Like I don't remember being on stage. I got off and I was like I think I literally like hit every pose like

this just deer in headlights and it scared the [ __ ] out of me because it was putting myself in a very vulnerable position of which I wasn't felt ready for. But I made myself do it by taking

small actions before, of getting to the gym when at least no one was there, of eating the meals when no one was around, of proving to myself I'm acting like a bodybuilder, so I'm going to get on a

bodybuilding stage, even if I don't feel like it in that moment. At the end of the day, it sounds trit, but you don't have to know the first step. If you're like, if I want to be a bodybuilder,

find a gym that's empty at 9:00 p.m. at night and go train at 9:00 p.m. at night when no one's around and do that for a while and then just see what happens from there. You just have to take a

single step forward. do [ __ ] something other than sitting on your phone scrolling at home wasting your [ __ ] life away. Because if you look at anyone that you look up to and imagine them like look at the person you

look up to the most and imagine them at phone at home just scrolling on Instagram like they're not doing that.

You got to get out and take action before you believe you do and then start to believe you do.

I feel like the one thing in order to push for action and instill belief because if you can combine those two things, that's what you need right now.

If you could do one thing literally tonight, sit down and define your future self. Or if you can't think of yourself at that, define like your ideal man of the person who could achieve the goals that you want to do. What is he working

towards and how does he act? What are his values, his belief systems? Red define what this man is and then define what he's capable of. And if you go through all that stuff and you read it, you might be getting jacked up, creating

this character in your mind. You're like, he could accomplish even more than I could have thought that I wanted to accomplish if he did these things. Well, then start doing those things in your day. It could be the smallest thing.

Like I said earlier, is he skipping the gym, sleeping in late, eating shitty food, all these things? Probably not. So define what this person's values are and then take action on it. If you could take one thing, I would say at least to

do that process, experiment, whatever you would want to call it. I've honestly done it before in therapy in different ways and then it inspired me to do it myself in other ways and I want to do it again now

that my life has changed so much. So, I'm a believer in that kind of stuff, being able to visualize and define the person you want to be to get where you want to go. So, it's a big thing. But at

the end of the day, stop wasting your [ __ ] life sitting around watching other people live your life. Go live it yourself.