Sometimes, the most profound truths make us feel the most uncomfortable. Today, that truth came in the form of a simple, timely, yet powerful statement from Alex Hormozi: “Pain is the Price of Progress.”
It’s a sentiment that mirrors my current reality in the agency. While the past three years have seen us more than double consecutively (with a slight plateau last year that I’m determined to overcome), the present feels like a constant uphill battle.
It’s a reminder that growth isn’t always smooth; in fact, it often feels…miserable. This post is as much a note to myself as it is a sharing of a crucial lesson: the discomfort we’re experiencing might just be the fuel for the progress we so desperately seek.
Hormozi’s Insight and Its Resonance:
When Alex Hormozi stated, “Pain is the Price of Progress,” in his YouTube video Brutally Honest Truths that Give You An Unfair Advantage In Life, followed by the starker line, “The fastest growth periods are often the most miserable. If you want progress, get used to pain,” it wasn’t just an observation; it felt like a direct commentary on my current situation.
The struggle to elevate my agency feels relentless. There’s a constant push and pull, a series of problems to solve, and a persistent feeling of being stretched. Yet, looking back, the periods of the most significant growth in our agency’s history have been precisely those marked by the most intense challenges. While demanding and frustrating, this current phase now feels less like a roadblock and more like an inevitable part of the journey – a testament to the fact that we’re pushing boundaries and striving for something bigger.
The Reality of Growth in Business
The truth is, this current “misery” in the agency isn’t some abstract concept; it’s tangible. It manifests in the late nights spent dealing with new operational complexities as we scale beyond our previous capacity. It’s in the uncomfortable conversations around team roles and responsibilities that inevitably arise when you’re pushing for more.
We’ve faced the gruelling process of onboarding larger clients. While the potential reward is immense, the initial investment of time and resources feels like a significant drain, given increased client demands and seemingly unreasonable expectations.
Even the plateau we experienced last year, while seemingly a lull, was its own form of discomfort – the nagging feeling of stagnation, the internal pressure not just to maintain but to reignite that upward trajectory. Each phase of growth has brought its unique brand of pain, a set of challenges we had to confront head-on to reach the next level. It’s a reminder that progress isn’t a smooth, linear ascent; it’s a series of hard-fought battles, each leaving its mark.
The Personal Toll and the Internal Struggle
But growth isn’t just about business wins; it claws at you personally. It’s a relentless internal audit, and the default setting is ‘not good enough.’
Despite doubling revenue and expanding the team, that persistent feeling of “more” lingers. The inner critic never shuts up, always pointing to the next challenge, the higher bar I’ve set – often to the point of self-inflicted pain.
Then doubt creeps in: Will this whole thing even work? Am I blindly charging in the wrong direction? Are these sacrifices just wasting away precious time and energy?
This constant mental wrestling match drains you. It’s the raw discomfort of stretching beyond my limits, staring down my weaknesses, and constantly demanding more.
Just like the business struggles, this personal discomfort, while sometimes brutal, feels intrinsically linked to the desire for genuine growth and the refusal to settle for the status quo.
“You’re Already in Pain, Keep Going”
And here’s the kicker, the reframing that cuts through the self-pity: as someone else wisely put it, I believe it’s Eric Thomas, “You’re already in pain, you should just keep going and get a reward for it the same way.”
Think about that for a second. The stress of trying to scale, the frustration of plateaus, and the internal pressure to be better are all forms of pain. So, the question shifts from avoiding pain (which seems impossible in the pursuit of meaningful growth) to leveraging the pain you’re already experiencing. Instead of seeing these struggles as signs to retreat, they become indicators that you’re in the arena, pushing your limits.
The discomfort isn’t the enemy; it’s the resistance you’re pushing against, and with enough consistent force, it will eventually yield progress – a tangible reward for the hardship endured.
A Personal Reminder and a Message of Encouragement
So, this isn’t just motivational poster fodder; it’s a real, unfiltered observation of the growth process in its moment.
Pain, in its various forms, has been and likely will continue to be the price of progress for me. This post serves as a reminder that the current discomfort is not an anomaly but an inherent part of the journey.
If you’re reading this and finding yourself in a similar pressure cooker, take heart. The struggle you’re facing isn’t a detour; it might just be the most direct route to where you want to be. Embrace the friction, learn from the resistance, and keep pushing. The reward, ultimately, lies on the other side of the pain.