Why Only the Paranoid Survive
In 1988, Andy Grove, the CEO of Intel, wrote a book called, Only the Paranoid Survive.
Initially, he intended to call the book, Strategic Inflection Points.
But Only the Paranoid Survive was much catchier.
Not only was the title catchier, it was also more accurate.
Andy’s logic was simple:
- Paranoia allows you to always remain alert.
- When you are alert, you notice the little things.
Because in the technology sector, things change fast.
If you cannot spot a change in the subtle changes, then it will be too late to adapt when the change has become gargantuan.
Therefore, you need to be alert & notice market changes early on.
The Only the Paranoid Survive concept is not only applicable to business owners.
It’s applicable to anyone who is looking to level up.
But we need to be careful.
Paranoia can easily be misused.
Bad Paranoia vs Good Paranoia
Bad paranoia is born from too much free time.
Good paranoia is born from humility.
Have you ever met someone who stirred up a lot of drama?
They would spread gossip, accuse people without evidence & think others were out to get them.
Bring someone like that to the forefront of your mind.
Was this a person who had a schedule filled with activities?
Most likely, no.
This was a person with too much time.
As the famous saying goes:
‘Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.’
When we have too much time, it causes us to become the bad kind of paranoid.
Good paranoia is born from a humble attitude.
Picture the greatest writers, scientists & entrepreneurs.
What do they all have in common?
- They always think there is more to learn.
A great scientist will constantly test their theory to see if it is accurate.
After 1000s of experiments, the great scientist still asks:
‘What am I missing?’
An onlooker will look at the great scientist and be like:
‘Why do you keep thinking you’re missing something?? You’re being paranoid!!’
Luckily, this is the good kind of paranoia.
It keeps the scientist creative & trying new experiments.
How to Unlock Good Paranoia
The good paranoia can be unlocked by asking:
‘What am I missing?’
Asking this question was a mental hack that Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, used to use.
There was one time when Sam noticed a flurry of theft in his stores.
So, he hired people to stand at the door to check customer receipts.
But there was an issue.
The people who stood by the doors intimidated the customers.
When Sam sensed the discomfort, he asked:
‘What am I missing?’
He was presented with an answer.
The people who were checking the receipts looked mean!
Since they were hired to look for thieves, they wanted to show that they meant business.
But their mean faces made innocent customers feel guilty.
Sam decided to have the people standing by the doors retrained as ‘greeters.’
These same intimidating doormen would now greet the customers when they walked in & would say goodbye when they left.
As they were saying goodbye, they would gently ask for the receipt.
This was a friendlier approach to checking the receipts.
By asking:
‘What am I missing?’
Sam sharpened his judgment.
1% Mindset
In my book, Level Up Mentality, I talk about the importance of having a 1% mindset.
This mindset is when you look to make daily 1% improvements all the time.
When you focus on the micro, your vision expands.
I run a YouTube channel.
One time, I was so sick that I could not record a video.
I uploaded one of my old videos and sat on my couch to watch some TV.
Initially, I thought:
‘Dang, this was a wasted day.’
But as I was watching TV, I noticed something:
‘I am watching other YouTubers. How about instead of moping around, I see how these YouTubers tell stories in their videos? Maybe I can get some ideas for my channel.’
I was no longer just lying and watching TV.
Now I was doing some form of studying.
By looking for 1% improvement opportunities, we are able to frame seemingly frivolous activities with an empowering narrative.
Plus, a measly 1% is not threatening to the subconscious mind.
The subconscious mind is like a little kid.
It doesn’t want to be brute forced into doing something.
It wants to be eased into doing something.
Luckily, 1% adds up.
It’s a gentle way to turn waves into tsunamis.
What the 1% Mindset & Good Paranoia Have in Common
‘Thanks for sharing the 1% mindset, Armani. But I thought today’s talk was about good paranoia?’
Here’s the thing, my friend:
- The 1% mentality & good paranoia are identical concepts!
Both concepts train you to prioritize the tiny.
Tiny in a complex system adds up.
Many people overlook the tiny.
Due to only focusing on the big items, their senses become dull.
- By being the good paranoid, you look to make 1% improvements.
- When making 1% improvements, you never rest on your laurels.
- By never resting on your laurels, you continue to prioritize the tiny.
- When prioritizing the tiny, you remain aware of subtle changes in your life.
- Remaining aware of subtle changes fuels good paranoia.
As you can tell, the 1% mindset & good paranoia play off one another!
Unlocking Good Paranoia
There are 2 types of stress out there, distress & eustress.
- Distress is bad and makes you nervous.
- Eustress is good and forces you to grow.
The purpose of emotional intelligence is to turn:
- Distress into eustress.
We don’t want to kill any emotions.
Instead, we want to use all emotions for practical purposes.
Where many think of paranoia as a bad thing…
I believe bad paranoia is a bad thing.
The bad paranoia is the negativity bias of the brain taking over when you have too much time.
Good paranoia is born from being humble.
You don’t know anything, yet.
You’re always asking:
‘What am I missing?’
By asking this coveted question, you focus on the tiny, while most people overlook it.
For More Tips to Level Up, Be Sure to Check Out Level Up Mentality!
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