Achievers vs Exceptional Performers
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Sam Parr shares his perspective on the distinction between achievable success and exceptional talent, particularly when comparing himself to highly successful individuals. He believes there's a fundamental difference between those who are successful through persistence versus those who possess extraordinary capabilities.
Key Points:
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On Regular Success vs Exceptional Achievement:
- Most successful people (like Casper founders) aren't necessarily smarter or more capable
- Success often comes from persistence and luck rather than superior ability
- Most people can achieve significant success with dedication
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On Exceptional Performers:
- Identifies certain individuals as fundamentally different in capability:
- Tyler Perry
- Elon Musk
- Jeff Bezos
- Lin-Manuel Miranda
- JK Rowling
- Describes them as having "more horsepower" - a fundamental advantage that can't be matched
- Uses analogy: "it's like a race car versus not a race car... there's just no amount of modifications"
- Identifies certain individuals as fundamentally different in capability:
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On Long-term Dedication:
- Acknowledges he could potentially become a billionaire with 30 years of dedication
- Questions whether the extreme time commitment is worth it
- Recognizes that exceptional achievers maintain their drive for decades
- References Tyler Perry's 30-year career
- Notes Perry's massive output: 1200 TV episodes, multiple plays, continuous creation
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Personal Assessment:
- Sees himself as capable but not exceptional
- Acknowledges being "smart enough" and hardworking
- Recognizes the gap between being capable and being extraordinary
- Expresses admiration for those with exceptional abilities: "you're better than me... we are not the same"
Sam Parr
Host of MFM and fitness influencer
Sam Parr is a serial entrepreneur and business media pioneer.
In 2016, he founded The Hustle, a business news media company that started in his kitchen with just $12 and grew to eight figures in revenue.
Sam led the charge in making newsletters popular when few believed in their potential.
After four successful years, he sold The Hustle to HubSpot, a publicly traded company. Now operating as HubSpot Media, The Hustle reaches 3 million readers daily, employs a team of nearly 100, and has been the launchpad for dozens of its staff to found their own media companies and newsletters.
Sam remains the host of the popular business podcast, My First Million, and continues to start and sell companies. He also co-founded Hampton, a highly vetted community for entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs, and teaches people to write better through his platform, Copy That.