Understand That Most People Are Lazy: Your Easy Path to Success

Here is a secret that might change your entire perspective on success and competition: most people are lazy.

That might sound cynical, but it's actually the most empowering and motivating realization you can have. The bar for being considered exceptional is, in most fields, shockingly low. The path to the top 10% is not a brutal, cutthroat war against legions of hyper-competent geniuses. More often than not, it's a quiet walk past a crowd of people who are scrolling on their phones, making excuses, and waiting for motivation to strike.

Your success is not determined by a battle against others; it's determined by a simple, internal commitment to not be lazy.

The Laziness of Inconsistency

The most common form of laziness is inconsistency. Most people get excited about a new goal—going to the gym, starting a business, learning a skill—and they go all-in for a week or two. But as soon as the initial rush of motivation fades, they stop.

The person who goes to the gym 3 times a week, every single week, for a year—even on the days they don't feel like it—will be in far better shape than the person who goes 6 times in one week and then quits for a month. The "secret" is just showing up.

Your Advantage: Be consistent. Create a schedule and stick to it. Don't rely on motivation; rely on discipline. Discipline is the engine that will carry you forward long after the spark of motivation has died. By simply being the person who keeps showing up, you will outlast 90% of your peers.

The Laziness of Aversion to "Boring" Work

Every worthy goal has a "boring" component. * Building a great physique requires tracking calories and washing dishes after meal prepping. * Building a successful business requires answering tedious emails and managing spreadsheets. * Becoming a great writer requires editing your own work, again and again.

Most people want the glorious outcome, but they are unwilling to do the unglamorous, repetitive tasks that create that outcome. They want the highlight reel without the practice sessions.

Your Advantage: Learn to love the process. Find satisfaction in the boring work. Understand that every tedious task you complete is a brick being laid in the foundation of your success. While others are seeking novelty and distraction, you will be quietly building an empire.

The Laziness of "Good Enough"

In most jobs, schools, or projects, there is a baseline level of effort required to not get fired or to get a passing grade. The vast majority of people do exactly that baseline amount of work and nothing more.

• The employee who does exactly what's in their job description, but never volunteers for a new project.
• The student who studies just enough to pass the test, but never reads the optional material.
• The freelancer who delivers the project on time, but never adds a small, unexpected extra touch.

Your Advantage: Do just a little bit more. It doesn't have to be monumental. * Stay 15 minutes later to prepare for the next day. * Read one extra article on a topic you're studying. * Send a follow-up email to a client with an additional helpful resource.

This tiny bit of extra effort sends a powerful signal that you are not average. It's what separates the memorable from the mediocre. This is how you build a reputation for excellence.

Why This Should Empower You

Realizing that most people are lazy shouldn't make you arrogant or judgmental. It should be a source of profound relief and motivation. It means you don't have to be a once-in-a-generation talent to achieve incredible things. You don't need a secret formula or a lucky break.

All you have to do is cultivate the simple, quiet discipline that most people can't be bothered with. Show up. Do the work. Finish what you start. Do it a little better than you have to.

That's it. That's the "easy" path to success. The path is easy not because the work isn't hard, but because the competition is, for the most part, not even trying.