Only The Paranoid Survive Complacency

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Abstract

.The distinguishing feature of the paranoid is that they are constantly aware— hyper aware—of what’s happening around them. Without awareness, complacency can more easily sneak in. We have to look closely into our work and honestly review our choices and methods, reflect on the outcomes of sharing our work, and always be on the lookout for opportunities for improvement.Many think that in success, complacency is squashed—because it represents an accomplishment outside of the comfort zone. But, it’s just the opposite. Once success is tasted, many internalize a sense of having “arrived.” They’ve crossed a finish line. They’ve accomplished a mission. And so they enjoy the fruits of their labor and slow or stop their laboring altogether—the laboring that got them to that point of success in the first place.And without that same work ethic and hustle, how can one expect to get the same results? This is why complacency breeds failure and not more success. Because as you settle down into the comforts of your newfound success and you stop pushing yourself to do the work, the work doesn’t get done and your momentum slows and eventually stops.You might conclude, therefore, that it is in failure that complacency is squashed—but you still wouldn’t be exactly right. Sometimes (many times) people take failure personally and let their ego take a hit that knocks them out of the game altogether. After all, failing sucks. Why do something that might manifest in failure all over again? Better to do things that are easier, safer,

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and more comfortable, eh? And slowly, slowly, complacency goes back to work on your life.And now you can see why it’s only the paranoid who survive. If you want to survive complacency, you can’t trust either success or failure. And success and failure are the byproducts of just about every action you’re going to take. They will constantly push you into complacency either by giving you that sense of completion or by making you feel like you aren’t good enough.What the paranoid know, that most others miss, is that complacency’s kryptonite isn’t success or failure—it’s doing the work.In success, the paranoid continue to do the work that got them there in the first place. In failure, the paranoid continue to do the work with improved knowledge so that it might eventually lead them to success. And if their ego or some other distraction tries to pull them away from their work—the paranoid have prepared for that, too, and are ready to push back to stay on track.Finding the right work is everything—work that challenges you, leads to growth, allows you to contribute, and is a manifestation that can only be uniquely expressed through you. When you find work that isn’t a means to an end, but is a fulfillment unto itself—you become protected from complacency. So long as you don’t let success slow you down, failure stop you, or distraction distract you—it won’t stand a chance.And what will survive will be much more than just you.</article></body>

Are you settling for less?

“Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive.” ~ Andy Grove, via MoveMe Quotes

The problem with complacency isn’t that you don’t get anything new or different from what you already have—it’s that you stop trying to solve interesting problems that are new or different from what you already have. And you end up solving the same damn problems over and over again.

Sometimes we become so complacent with our way of living that we forget we ever even wanted anything different. Has this happened to you? Ask yourself: Am I realizing a life of my dreams or am I settling for a life that is—slowly, subtly, connivingly—becoming just a surrendered-to norm?

This is the danger with complacency: it doesn’t happen fast—it happens painstakingly slow.

It carefully sneaks up on you. It precisely increases by one millimeter per day and, like a child, never noticeably grows until one day—you look back and see they’ve went through a growth spurt! If you’re not careful, complacency will grow inside of you all the same.

The distinguishing feature of the paranoid is that they are constantly aware— hyper aware—of what’s happening around them. Without awareness, complacency can more easily sneak in. We have to look closely into our work and honestly review our choices and methods, reflect on the outcomes of sharing our work, and always be on the lookout for opportunities for improvement.

Many think that in success, complacency is squashed—because it represents an accomplishment outside of the comfort zone. But, it’s just the opposite. Once success is tasted, many internalize a sense of having “arrived.” They’ve crossed a finish line. They’ve accomplished a mission. And so they enjoy the fruits of their labor and slow or stop their laboring altogether—the laboring that got them to that point of success in the first place.

And without that same work ethic and hustle, how can one expect to get the same results? This is why complacency breeds failure and not more success. Because as you settle down into the comforts of your newfound success and you stop pushing yourself to do the work, the work doesn’t get done and your momentum slows and eventually stops.

You might conclude, therefore, that it is in failure that complacency is squashed—but you still wouldn’t be exactly right. Sometimes (many times) people take failure personally and let their ego take a hit that knocks them out of the game altogether. After all, failing sucks. Why do something that might manifest in failure all over again? Better to do things that are easier, safer, and more comfortable, eh? And slowly, slowly, complacency goes back to work on your life.

And now you can see why it’s only the paranoid who survive. If you want to survive complacency, you can’t trust either success or failure. And success and failure are the byproducts of just about every action you’re going to take. They will constantly push you into complacency either by giving you that sense of completion or by making you feel like you aren’t good enough.

What the paranoid know, that most others miss, is that complacency’s kryptonite isn’t success or failure—it’s doing the work.

In success, the paranoid continue to do the work that got them there in the first place. In failure, the paranoid continue to do the work with improved knowledge so that it might eventually lead them to success. And if their ego or some other distraction tries to pull them away from their work—the paranoid have prepared for that, too, and are ready to push back to stay on track.

Finding the right work is everything—work that challenges you, leads to growth, allows you to contribute, and is a manifestation that can only be uniquely expressed through you. When you find work that isn’t a means to an end, but is a fulfillment unto itself—you become protected from complacency. So long as you don’t let success slow you down, failure stop you, or distraction distract you—it won’t stand a chance.

And what will survive will be much more than just you.