So, another guru is telling us the "secret" to success? Give me a freakin' break. This time it's Codie Sanchez, ex-Wall Streeter turned business coach, telling everyone that obsession is the magic ingredient. Apparently, all the billionaires she's interviewed are "obsessed," almost uncomfortably so. Fine, whatever.
The Gospel of "Hustle"
Sanchez, who's got a cool $17 million net worth and a bunch of followers on TikTok, says obsession means "thinking nonstop until your relentless action makes it unreasonable for you to not win." Right. Because that sounds healthy. As she told Fortune Magazine, you have to be obsessed to be successful, and forget about work-life balance, The uncomfortable secret of successful people: Forget work-life balance, you have to be ‘obsessed,’ ex–Wall Streeter and business coach says.
It's the same old hustle culture garbage, repackaged for a new generation of suckers. Work yourself into the ground, sacrifice everything, and maybe, just maybe, you'll get rich. And if you don't? Well, you just weren't obsessed enough.
She trots out the usual suspects – Cuban, Bezos, Jobs – as examples of obsessive entrepreneurs who never took a break. Bezos pulling all-nighters to fulfill orders? Yeah, and now he's launching himself into space while his warehouse workers pee in bottles. Real inspirational stuff.
I mean, let's be real, these guys probably are obsessed. But is that something to aspire to? Is that a life? Or is it just a gilded cage of your own making?
And Sanchez herself? Journalism award winner turned finance bro turned "contrarian thinker." Funny how "contrarian" always seems to lead back to the same old capitalist grind, ain't it?
Work-Life Balance is Dead (Apparently)
The implication, offcourse, is that work-life balance is a myth, a delusion for the weak. If you're not willing to dedicate every waking moment to your business, you're just not serious about success.
But here's the thing: maybe success isn't just about money. Maybe it's about, I don't know, having a life? Spending time with your family? Not burning yourself out before you hit 40?
Sanchez says you only need "three to five years of absolute dedication" to see results. If you make it ten years, that's where billionaires start to land. So, a decade of your life, gone. Is that really worth it?
And what happens after those ten years? Do you suddenly become a well-adjusted human being with healthy relationships and a fulfilling personal life? Or are you just a hollow shell, driven by the same relentless need for more?
I'm not saying hard work isn't important. It is. But there's a difference between working hard and being consumed by an all-encompassing, unhealthy obsession.
I wonder if Codie Sanchez's husband (who is Chris Petkas, btw) agrees with her take on needing to be "obsessed?" Maybe he's got a different perspective. Just sayin'.
The Real "Secret"
Here's my contrarian take: the real secret to success is luck. Being born into the right family, having the right connections, being in the right place at the right time.
Obsession might help, sure. But it's not a substitute for privilege. And it's definitely not a guarantee of happiness.
Maybe I'm just getting old and cynical. Maybe I'm jealous of all these "successful" people. Maybe I just don't have the "obsession" gene. But honestly, I'm not sure I want it.
So, What's the Real Scam?
This whole "obsession" thing is just another way to sell courses, books (like Main Street Millionaire), and podcasts (like The BigDeal Podcast). It's a marketing tactic, plain and simple. Codie Sanchez is making a killing by telling people what they want to hear: that they, too, can be billionaires if they just work hard enough. What a load of horseshit.