Business By Hormozi #262: Be Useful – How Shifting Focus Transforms Your Life

The Power of Trying to Be Useful

Happiness is something we all strive for, but it often feels elusive. “My life got a lot better when I stopped trying to be happy and started trying to be useful.” This quote speaks to a fundamental truth about life and business: true fulfillment doesn’t come from chasing happiness—it comes from being of value to others.

This is the story of Jack and Lily, two entrepreneurs who discovered that by shifting their focus from personal happiness to making a positive impact, they transformed not only their businesses but also their lives.

Jack’s Early Struggles: Chasing Happiness

Jack began his entrepreneurial journey with the goal of becoming rich and famous. He imagined that building a successful business would bring him all the happiness he ever wanted. However, as his business grew, he realized that success didn’t bring the joy he expected. He was constantly chasing new goals, trying to fill an emptiness inside. Jack’s life felt hollow because he was focused on personal gain rather than creating value for others.

His first business, a tech startup, was built on the idea of making a lot of money by offering a service that people needed. But his approach was flawed. Jack wasn’t thinking about how his product could serve others; he was more concerned about the money and recognition it would bring him. Over time, his motivation began to wane as the pursuit of happiness didn’t fulfill him.

Lily’s Shift: The Power of Being Useful

Lily, on the other hand, started her own nonprofit focused on providing educational resources to underprivileged children. From the beginning, her goal wasn’t personal happiness—it was to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. She focused on being useful, on providing value, and on solving problems for the community.

As her organization grew, Lily found that the more she focused on serving others, the more fulfilled she became. The joy she had been chasing through material success came naturally when she shifted her attention to helping others. Lily didn’t worry about how happy she felt; she worked to make a difference, and in return, the satisfaction of creating positive change filled her life.

The Transformation: Why Being Useful Works

The key difference between Jack and Lily was their mindset. Jack was focused on happiness, which made it hard for him to find true joy. He was constantly looking for ways to satisfy his desires, but nothing seemed to work. Lily, on the other hand, embraced the idea of being useful. By focusing on helping others and creating value, she not only found happiness but also created lasting impact.

In business, as in life, the pursuit of personal happiness can often leave you feeling unfulfilled. When you shift your focus to being useful—to creating something that benefits others—the rewards are far greater. Being useful isn’t just about fulfilling others' needs; it’s about finding a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in everything you do. When you focus on helping people, whether it’s through your business, your service, or your talent, you’ll find that fulfillment follows naturally.

Embracing the Journey of Being Useful

When you make the decision to shift your focus from seeking happiness to being useful, everything changes. You begin to find joy in the process of creating value and solving problems. Being useful is not just about doing something for others—it’s about making a positive impact in the world.

This mindset shift can be applied to any area of life, including your business. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or an employee, focusing on how you can be of service to others will lead to more rewarding experiences, stronger relationships, and deeper satisfaction.

Conclusion

Happiness is often elusive, but when you stop trying to chase it and instead focus on being useful, you’ll find that happiness comes as a natural byproduct. By serving others and making a positive impact, you can transform not only your business but your life. Like Lily, you’ll discover that when you stop worrying about your own happiness and start focusing on how you can be of value, your life will get a whole lot better.

Moral: "My life got a lot better when I stopped trying to be happy and started trying to be useful."