Be Obsessed or Be Average
A bold and contrarian wake-up call for anyone truly ready for success
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Summary
Unleash the power of obsession and revolutionize your life with a fierce intensity! In "Be Obsessed or Be Average," Grant Cardone flips the script on conventional wisdom, propelling readers into the electrifying realm of boundless ambition. With unwavering passion, Cardone reveals how his own relentless drive transformed him into a titan of industry, sparking a blueprint for anyone daring to dream beyond mediocrity. This isn't just a guide—it's a manifesto for the fearless, a clarion call for those hungry to ascend the heights of business leadership. Ready to challenge the status quo? This is your invitation to dive headfirst into a life of extraordinary achievement.
Introduction
In the unforgiving world of American business, few stories are as compelling as that of a man who clawed his way from the depths of drug addiction to becoming one of the most recognizable names in sales and real estate. Grant Cardone's journey reads like a modern-day cautionary tale turned triumph, beginning with a young man who nearly destroyed himself with substances and self-doubt, only to emerge as a multimillionaire entrepreneur whose companies generate over $100 million annually. His transformation wasn't gradual or gentle—it was explosive, driven by an almost manic dedication to success that would make most people uncomfortable. What makes Cardone's story particularly fascinating is not just his financial achievements, but his willingness to embrace what others call destructive obsession as the very engine of his success. Through his remarkable journey, readers will discover how the same addictive personality that once threatened to destroy him became the fuel for unprecedented achievement, how he built multiple business empires from nothing, and why he believes that being average is the most dangerous choice anyone can make in today's economy.
From Rock Bottom to Sales Mastery
Grant Cardone's early life seemed destined for middle-class contentment until tragedy struck. When his father died at fifty-two, ten-year-old Grant watched his family's dreams of prosperity crumble overnight. His mother, suddenly widowed with five children, became obsessed with scarcity, clipping coupons and worrying about every penny. While she worked tirelessly to provide stability, young Grant felt suffocated by the constant fear of not having enough. He made a promise to himself that would later define his entire existence: he would get rich so he never had to worry about money again. But first, he had to survive his own self-destruction. By his early twenties, Cardone had fallen into the trap that claims so many young men—drugs became his obsession instead of success. For years, he used everything available, from marijuana to harder substances, watching his life spiral downward as his weight dropped and his complexion turned gray. The wake-up call came in the form of a brutal beating that left him hospitalized with seventy-five stitches across his face and head. Even that wasn't enough to change his trajectory. The real transformation began when Cardone was twenty-five, broke, and finally admitted he couldn't quit drugs on his own. After twenty-nine days in rehabilitation, he emerged not cured but clear about one thing: he had to redirect his obsessive nature toward something constructive. The counselor's parting words—that he would never make it and should abandon any grandiose ideas of success—became fuel rather than discouragement. Cardone returned to his job at a car dealership with a new mission: he would become obsessed with sales success instead of substances. Within months, the same intensity that had nearly destroyed him began producing remarkable results. Cardone threw himself into learning everything about sales, arriving an hour early, staying past closing, and studying sales techniques during every free moment. He became the dealership's top salesperson within six months, not because he loved selling cars, but because he had found a constructive outlet for his obsessive nature. This period taught him a crucial lesson that would define his entire philosophy: obsession itself isn't the problem—being obsessed with the wrong things is the problem.
Building the Obsession Mindset and Business Empire
Once Cardone had proven his sales abilities, he faced a choice that would determine his entire future: remain a successful employee or risk everything to build his own empire. The transition wasn't smooth or immediate. His first years as an entrepreneur were marked by constant rejection, call reluctance, and the kind of financial terror that keeps most people awake at night. He was trying to sell established businesses on his sales training programs, often flying across the country only to be turned down repeatedly. The breakthrough came when Cardone realized he wasn't making claims big enough to capture attention. Instead of promising modest improvements, he began guaranteeing dramatic results within specific timeframes. This wasn't dishonesty—it was confidence backed by an unwavering commitment to deliver. When he promised six deals by noon after a thirty-minute presentation, he forced himself to operate at a level that matched his promises. This principle of overpromising and overdelivering became central to his business philosophy. Cardone's business empire grew through relentless expansion and an obsession with control that most entrepreneurs would find exhausting. He built multiple companies simultaneously: sales training, real estate investments, consulting, and media production. Each venture was driven by the same manic energy that characterized his personal transformation. He refused to diversify in the traditional sense, instead concentrating his efforts and resources into areas where he could dominate completely. The key to his sustained growth was his ability to attract and retain people who shared his obsessive mindset. Cardone created company cultures where average performance was unacceptable and where every employee was expected to contribute to revenue generation, not just perform their assigned tasks. He measured everything obsessively, demanded daily reports on critical metrics, and maintained control over every aspect of his businesses. This approach, which many would consider micromanagement, allowed him to scale his operations while maintaining the standards that had made him successful.
The Philosophy of Extreme Success
At the core of Cardone's philosophy lies a controversial premise: that being average is not just inadequate but dangerous in today's economy. He argues that the middle class has become a trap, offering just enough security to prevent people from taking the risks necessary for true wealth creation. His approach to success is built on what he calls the "10X Rule"—the idea that whatever goals you set, whatever efforts you think are necessary, you need to multiply them by ten to achieve real success. This philosophy extends beyond mere goal-setting to encompass a complete rejection of conventional wisdom about work-life balance. Cardone believes that the concept of balance is a myth perpetuated by people who have given up on their dreams. Instead, he advocates for total obsession with success, arguing that when you're truly passionate about what you're building, work becomes energizing rather than draining. He views vacations, leisure time, and the pursuit of comfort as threats to momentum and achievement. Central to Cardone's approach is his belief in the power of persistent action over perfect planning. He advocates committing to opportunities before you know how you'll fulfill them, using the pressure of commitment to force creative solutions. This willingness to operate without complete information, to be "reckless" in pursuit of growth, separates successful entrepreneurs from those who remain trapped in analysis paralysis. He believes that competence comes from action, not from preparation. Perhaps most controversially, Cardone embraces being labeled a "control freak" and encourages others to do the same. He argues that control is essential for creating the outcomes you want in life, and that people who resist control are usually those who have something to hide or who lack confidence in their own abilities. This extends to every aspect of his life, from business operations to family dynamics, creating an environment where he can predict and influence outcomes rather than hoping for the best.
Summary
Grant Cardone's life demonstrates that the same intensity that can destroy a person can, when properly directed, become the foundation for extraordinary success. His journey from addiction to achievement isn't just about overcoming obstacles—it's about harnessing destructive tendencies and transforming them into productive obsessions. The most powerful lesson from his experience is that obsession itself is not the enemy; being obsessed with the wrong things is what creates problems. For anyone feeling trapped by conventional expectations or frustrated by average results, Cardone's story offers both permission and a roadmap for embracing extreme ambition as a path to freedom and fulfillment. His approach won't appeal to everyone, but for those willing to abandon the safety of average performance in pursuit of extraordinary results, his methods provide a blueprint for turning passion into profit and obsession into achievement.
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By Grant Cardone
