Business By Hormozi #89: Blame Yourself for Growth – Blame Yourself for Growth

The Story of Alex and Sam: Taking Responsibility for Growth

Alex and Sam had been friends for years, always supporting each other through thick and thin. They met in college, both pursuing their dreams in vastly different fields — Alex was studying business while Sam was focused on creative writing. Despite their differences, their friendship had always been strong. They were there for each other during the best of times and the hardest moments.

But there came a time when things started to unravel. Alex had worked hard on his career, putting in long hours and making sacrifices. However, when things didn’t go as planned, Alex found himself blaming everyone around him — the economy, his boss, his colleagues — anyone except himself. He had been so focused on how others were responsible for his struggles that he missed the opportunity to learn and grow from his mistakes.

Sam, on the other hand, took a different approach. When she faced setbacks in her writing career, she didn’t point fingers or shift blame. Instead, she took a long look at herself and said, “What could I have done better?” She understood that true growth comes from self-reflection and you need to blame yourself for growth, and responsibility for her own actions and mistakes.

The Wake-Up Call

One day, Alex and Sam were having coffee, and Alex once again found himself venting about how unfair everything was. “If only my boss was more supportive,” Alex said, “or if the economy was better, I could’ve succeeded.”

Sam listened patiently, but instead of offering the usual comforting words, she said, “Alex, you’ve been blaming everyone else for so long, and it hasn’t changed anything. Maybe it’s time to look at yourself. If you want to get better, you have to stop blaming others and start taking responsibility for your own actions.”

Her words hit Alex hard. He had never really thought about it that way. He had always believed that external factors were the reason he wasn’t where he wanted to be, but Sam’s perspective made him realize that true progress comes from within.

Taking Responsibility

Alex spent the next few weeks reflecting on his career and life. He realized that by blaming others, he had been avoiding the hard work of self-improvement. He had neglected his own role in the failures he had faced. But now, with Sam’s advice in mind, he began to take responsibility for his own actions. He acknowledged his mistakes and started taking steps to fix them.

He worked on his communication skills with his team, sought feedback, and became more proactive in finding solutions rather than pointing fingers. The more he focused on his own growth, the more things began to change for the better. By accepting responsibility, he found the strength to improve and grow in ways he never thought possible.

The Moral: Blame Yourself for Growth

The lesson from Alex and Sam’s story is clear: "If you want to feel better, blame others. If you want to get better, blame yourself." Blaming others may offer temporary relief, but it doesn’t lead to growth. True progress comes when you take responsibility for your actions and use setbacks as opportunities to learn and improve.

By blaming himself, Alex was able to move forward, learn from his mistakes, and ultimately achieve greater success than he ever could have by staying in the blame game. It wasn’t about perfection; it was about accountability and taking control of his future.

Conclusion

If you find yourself in a situation where things aren’t going well, resist the urge to blame others. Instead, ask yourself, “What can I do better?” Take responsibility for your actions, learn from your mistakes, and use them as stepping stones toward success. Blaming others may feel good for a moment, but it’s only by blaming yourself and embracing self-reflection that you can truly get better and grow.