“Volume negates luck” - Alex Hormozi

“You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end–which you can never afford to lose–with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” - Quote from James Stockdale, a Vietnam POW, out of the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins

Being a Ranger School graduate, sometimes young soldiers or new officers will ask me for advice, either because they are attending or planning on attending the school themselves in the near future.

I usually would have two pieces of advice:

1. Getting your mind ready is more important than getting your body ready.
2. There’s an element of luck involved… so good luck.

But, recently, I was listening to a podcast in which Alex Hormozi stated “volume negates luck.” It made me think of Chapter 4 in the book “Good to Great” which covers the story of Admiral James Stockdale, a POW camp survivor of the Vietnam War. Stockdale emphasizes the importance of faith that you will prevail, while also having the willpower to confront the brutal facts of your current reality.

He recollects the optimists who would parade sentiments such as “We’ll be home by Christmas!”, and when they weren’t home by Christmas, their spirits were broken. But those who were of the opinion that they would get out, no matter what, but could also confront the brutal fact that they may not be home by Christmas, or New Years, or their wife’s birthday… those were the ones who prevailed. Those were the ones who survived.

Reflecting on these lessons… I think I would change my advice about Ranger school. Number 1 still applies. But I would change number 2…

Have faith, and never give up. Be prepared to repeat phases. Be prepared to be sent home. Be prepared to go back. With faith, disciplined willpower, and sheer volume of effort… There’s no reality in which you don’t earn your tab.

I think this advice applies in everything you want in life. If it sounds too simple, it’s because it is. Just don’t give up, and I can have whatever I want?

Yep.

Here’s the thing though. Just because it’s simple, doesn’t mean it’s easy.