The good-enough versus legendary distinction. What can happen to people on the ascent to world-class they get to a place where they say, “I’m already more successful than most people I know. I get up early, I’m doing all these great things. I don’t need to optimize,” and they start to coast. I call this the Titan’s Decline, and what I’m suggesting to you is actually success is a vulnerable place because when we become successful, it’s very easy to stop doing the very things that made you successful. When you become successful, it’s easy to start to coast. When you are successful, it’s easy to rest on your laurels. There was a type of slave in ancient Rome called the Auriga. And the Auriga’s job was to stand behind the emperor, the Dukes, the military commander, and whisper in his ear, “momento homo” which is Latin for, remember you’re only a man. In other words, remember you only a mortal. Remember, don’t think more of yourself. Remember to stay humble. Remember not to be arrogant. Remember to keep your boots on the ground. Remember to get up early, and remember to train like a Spartan warrior. Remember to serve your people. Remember always keep learning. People get successful and they start to coast. They suffer from the Titan’s Decline. Their success causes them to stop doing the very things that made them successful, and the moment you start to rest on your laurels, this idea of resting on your laurels comes from ancient Greece. It would actually take this crown of laurels. It was this plant, this wreath of laurels, and put it on the head as a crown to crown the winning athlete. So this principle of don’t rest on your laurels came from that. It was almost suggested to the winning athlete, the winning warrior, the winning leader, the winning movement maker, do not rest on that crown of laurels. As you become more successful, become more productive, as you become more confident, as you handcraft a world-class life, stay humble. I mean, it makes me think of Steve Jobs. “Stay humble,” he said, “And stay foolish.” Never stop calibrating and refining your morning routine. Never stop learning. Never stop getting up early. Never stop increasing your fitness. Never stop polishing your craft. Never lose the sparkle in your eye. The thing about a master is she never thinks she’s a master. She always thinks she’s a beginner.
