37. What's Essential: Benjamin Hardy on The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals

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Feb 8, 2021

In a thought-provoking conversation, Benjamin Hardy, an organizational psychologist and author of "Who Not How," shares powerful insights on mindset shifts for happiness and success. He emphasizes the importance of gratitude and confidence as metrics for personal growth. Hardy advocates for focusing on relationships—finding the right 'whos' rather than fixating on 'hows' when pursuing goals. With discussions on redefining success through collaboration, listeners are inspired to adopt a more community-oriented approach to achieve bigger aspirations.

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ANECDOTE

Hardy's Transformative Year

Benjamin Hardy's life transformed drastically in 2018.
He adopted three children, had twins, and published his first book.

INSIGHT

The Gap and the Gain

Dan Sullivan suggests happiness depends on what you measure yourself against.
Comparing yourself to ideals or others leads to unhappiness, while focusing on personal growth fosters happiness.

ADVICE

Focus on Self-Comparison

Don't compare yourself to others; compare yourself to who you were yesterday.
Focus on self-improvement and growth rather than external validation.

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Essentialism

The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Greg McKeown

In 'Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,' Greg McKeown argues that by applying a more selective criteria for what is essential, individuals can regain control of their time and energy. The book is divided into sections such as Explore, Eliminate, and Execute, providing practical advice on distinguishing the vital few from the trivial many and eliminating non-essential activities. McKeown emphasizes the importance of clarity of focus, the ability to say 'no,' and living 'by design, not by default.' This approach helps readers achieve more by doing less and making the highest possible contribution in their personal and professional lives.

Effortless

Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most

Greg McKeown

In 'Effortless', Greg McKeown offers practical tools and strategies for achieving more with less effort. The book is organized into three parts: the effortless state, effortless action, and effortless results. McKeown argues that not everything has to be hard and provides methods for turning tedious tasks into enjoyable rituals, preventing frustration, setting a sustainable pace, and automating essential tasks. His philosophy emphasizes the importance of finding easier ways to accomplish what matters most, rather than perpetually overexerting oneself[1][2][5].

Who Not How

Dan Sullivan

Benjamin Hardy

In 'Who Not How', Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy introduce the 'Who Not How' framework, which challenges the traditional 'how' mindset by encouraging readers to ask 'who' can help achieve their goals. This book teaches how to delegate tasks effectively, find experts who can handle specific challenges, and create transformational relationships. By adopting this mindset, readers can free up time, build supportive teams, and achieve their biggest goals while maintaining personal freedom and reducing burnout.

The Gap and The Gain

The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success

Dan Sullivan

Benjamin Hardy

This book introduces the concept of 'The Gap and The Gain', developed by Dan Sullivan, which helps high achievers understand why they are often unhappy despite their accomplishments. It explains that measuring oneself against an ideal (the Gap) leads to dissatisfaction, while measuring against past achievements (the Gain) fosters happiness, gratitude, and motivation. The book is a masterclass on positive psychology, healthy relationships, mental well-being, and high-performance, offering practical advice on how to shift focus to appreciate progress and achieve greater fulfillment and success.

Willpower doesn't work

Benjamin Hardy

In 'Willpower Doesn't Work,' Benjamin Hardy argues that willpower is not a reliable tool for achieving success. Instead, he advocates for the power of environment in shaping behavior and outcomes. The book provides strategies on how to create an environment that supports your goals, such as removing distractions, investing in personal growth, and using 'forcing functions' to ensure desired behaviors become automatic. Hardy draws on psychological theories and the experiences of successful individuals to illustrate how adapting to and designing one's environment is crucial for personal and professional success.