Go Hard or Go Home
I’ve seen that mantra in several different contexts, in particular to athletics or anything with a kind of “edge” to it. It comes off a little severe, like something those guys who pound each other in cages on Pay per View would say. Train hard, push hard, work hard, fight hard. Otherwise, what’s the point?
In general, people recognize the truth in the phrase ‘Go Hard or Go Home.’ If you’re going to do something, either be the absolute best you can be or don’t do it at all. Well, not everything. You can enjoy the heck out of playing golf, but you don’t have to be a PGA player to get something out of playing. You do it strictly because you want to, no reasons needed.
Consider, though, the difference between something you do for fun versus something you’re doing for your life, like working toward financial freedom, or living more healthy. Being an average golfer is fine, but there’s no such thing as an average millionaire. You’re either a millionaire or you’re not, and quite frankly there aren’t as many millionaires as there are wanna-be millionaires.
In other words, you can’t just “okay” yourself to riches. You’re either going to master wealth, or you’re not.
That’s where the warrior mentality is critical for the mind of the millionaire. The warrior always chooses to be a master. A warrior has to! There is no other option. For a real warrior, mastery can make the difference between life and death. Not that being anything less than rich equals being dead, but the same kind of must-mentality is … a must!
Mastery isn’t as much a skill as it is a matter of discipline, desire, and commitment to taking your life to another level. Most people are not living anywhere near their potential because they’re playing in the minor leagues. Major leaguers, no matter what job or industry, are making lots of money because they’re not afraid of themselves, the work, the responsibility, making the necessary changes, of playing big, and they believe they must play big in order to win big.
Does it take more work to play in the majors than in the minors? Not necessarily. It takes more practice for sure, but sometimes all it takes are minor adjustments to your thinking and how you apply your skills in order to make big changes.
If you want to master anything, you’ll have to do at least some things differently. Your standards must change, your thinking needs to change from “This is okay” to “I can do much better,” and you’ll need to find reasons why there’s room to get bigger rather than reasons why not.
Can you be a master at everything? No, nor does anybody need to be. You need, instead, to prioritize, choose and focus on those things you really want for yourself. Whatever you choose, know that you’re going to master it or not take it on. If you aren’t willing to see your potential and hold yourself to it, then you won’t master much.
You will always get what you’re willing to settle for. The hardest part isn’t actually becoming a master. It’s deciding that you’re going to be one in the first place, and not going backwards from that moment on.
Now it’s your turn! Are you playing in the major leagues or still down at the minors? If you are mastering your life, what was the turning point to get you to make the shift up? If you are still in the minors, what will it take to get you to play bigger? Share here—someone just might read what you write and be inspired to live a better life.







I absolutely agree…. through one of your newsletters as well, where you said that if you start something be sure to finish it… this post commensurates with that… And it has given me a paradigm… I used to pick up opportunities, but my potential would fizzle out…. and all I had to do was stick on!>… I've learnt.. And now there is no looking back,, Afterall I am not building my financial blueprint for nothing !! Thanks Mr. Eker.
Nicely explained. Thanks for sharing an important distinction between Going for Gold in the things we pursue for our Lives, versus the things we do for our recreation. An important point that many might otherwise lose sight of in their own personal journeys. Understanding these simple perspectives can become quite a catalyst for creating the change toward that millionaire mindset, once those other less peak-moment activities are recognized and accepted for what they are, rather than a life sentence that says they can't achieve anything.
A great post for me at the moment. I am in the minor leagues and I have seen big league plays pass me by. In the past, I was only in little league–so I have progressed quite a bit.
I have another big league play in front of me. The fact that I notice the plays are a great start to making them! I need to gain focus and play hard.
This post hits home as I am a major league player–it is a must. I am pulling on every resource I can think of to make this play in all-star form. I would love to hear from someone in the big leagues who once was in the minors…what is the subtle shift?
“How bad do you want it?” I often ask that question & the replies I get are always different. I then ask, “How do you know you want it that bad?”
We all have a different motivational direction. Someone motivated 'toward pleasure' might tell themselves 'I'll have a luxury house on the beach with my boat tied up at my private jetty”…
Those motivated 'away from pain' might tell themselves “I don't want to live week to week & struggle just to pay the rent/mortgage as my parents did”…
What motivational direction are YOU? Toward pleasure or Away from pain? How's that working for you? Is it driving you to achieve your greatest desires or keeping you just above the line?
Harv mentioned mastery is more about discipline, desire & committment than it is a skill. Will Not being completely focused AND willing to do what it takes get you where you want to be? I mean where you Really want to be?!
Do you look for every opportunity to 'stretch' yourself & further develop your 'money muscle'? Do you look for opportunities to Create opportunities?! If you're already doing this, or if you were doing this -how could that help with what you want to achieve?
What do you tell yourself every day? Are you thinking like a Warrior/Achiever or do you choose to Justify your fears & self imposed limits by letting your Excuses hold you back?
When faced with the seemingly impossible I always ask myself & others-“Is it Too Hard or Just Unfamiliar?”
If YOU asked yourself that question what could be different in your life/business?
As Harv said, the hardest part isn't Becomong a master, it's Choosing to be one then Not slipping back into old familiar habits.
Ask yourself… How will the choice you make affect what you ultimately desire for yourself & your loved ones?
If you continued justifying why you'll 'start tomorrow' or making excuses for not 'Stepping Up' how are you going to feel in 12 months time when Nothing is different?
What about 5 years from now?
When you're old & lying on your death-bed, what do you want to think & feel as you look back over your life?
How do you want your kids & others to remember you?
If you're Serious about not settling for less than you Really Desire -Seize Each Moment! Make Every Day Count!
Harv -Thanks for another value-packed post! Your Blog is one I Always read from start to finish.
I love the message. 😀 It inspires me to continue doing what I love doing, with the best of my abilities. 😀 Will be sharing this article to my friends. 😀
This was a great “kick-in-the-butt” post for me. Thank you
I’ll be modest & honest and answer truthfully to your questions….
A – Yes, I’m still down in the minor leagues…..BUT working V-hard to gain the necessary tools & steps to reach & stay for good in the majors….. If I want this to be solid grounds, I better know where to go rather than run like one without any idea & sense of direction…… this is a re-new to me !
B – What will it take ?……
It’s only up to me to train hard & harder every day, to be & stay sharp ( my absolute best) in order to achieve these minimum skills to understand what no longer I should not do.
I’m just coming out of a severe depression thanks this mindset & to you HARV. Now I realize the true potential that I can achieve by committing to it….. This was a 90° turn for me, now it’s done, got to work & feed my “training program” to just be at my best & better, -> be in the major…. Soon !
See ya soon ! Robert_M
YES! Determination to be the best and working at it every day will bring you to the front of the pack.
“Are you practising to improve?” Keith Cunningham asked at Guerilla Business School, and that stuck with me.
I am committed to becoming a master of business, a master of marketing, a master trainer. I've made that commitment to myself and haven't gone back on my word.
I'm not shooting for 2nd place here. My intention, in those areas of my life that are important to me, is to be the best.
I can tell you, things are very different in my life these days, and it's only gonna get better!
Harv, you will be calling me to train on one of your stages!
Conor Kelly
I was given the opportunity to work with the best-selling author Justine Pollard and it was my turning point. Her accomplishments inspire me to attempt at mastering the major league so to speak.
You're right on the money (once again) Harv… Mastery takes discipline, desire, and commitment. Too many are taught to believe that they weren't “born” a certain way and so it allows them to not try whole heartedly!
Thanks for the common sense Harv!
I am truly working in the major leagues in ways I have never before!
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful words. The warrior mindset feels key to me.
My whole early life experience was filled with parents, friends, girlfriends, co-workers, teachers, bosses… literally *everyone.*
Telling me over and over that I had sooo much potential, that I could do so much, help so many, I was blessed with natural genius to accomplish, succeed, etc.
And for whatever reason, I chose to settle. I told everyone I *was* succeeding, for I excelled at whatever I did easily, with a flick of the wrist.. In the minor-leagues. I never stepped up, never tried more, despite having a track-record of success with anything I put my mind to, and a support-network of people urging me on.
I'd take simple jobs and tasks and impress the hell out of everyone but that's all I'd do.
And as life seems to go, if a person is not pursuing their own personal passion and expanding their vision, misery-generating circumstances arise.
So I became more and more miserable. My relationship wasn't growing, my career wasn't growing, my money wasn't growing, my circle of friends wasn't growing.
I felt like a creative powerhouse who had self-imprisoned himself in utter stagnation. I was depressed beyond words.
But then a miracle occurred. From this intense crucible of frustration, I decided to change it all. I decided to embrace everything everyone had told me all my life.
Though I was living on my own and barely making rent, I chose to break-up with my girlfriend of two years AND quit my full-time job — all on the same day.
I've never looked back.
Since then, I've touched so many people lives, receive more praise and fans daily, am sought after by my community, and continually make ballsier and ballsier decisions, in every sense of the world, I feel like a warrior.
Hope this made it through, it's my second time typing it 😉
Mad love to you Harv, and all your readers. You guys rock and make the world go round.
Now, I'm not a big believer in 'New Year's Resolutions', I'm more of a believer in 'Life Changes'…New Year's Res have a tendency to be emphemeral in nature. However, my Life Resolution coincided with the beginning of the year 2008. I realized that I needed to make a decision in my life, after years and years of broken dreams and half way completed projects.
I am of the “Go hard or go home” without a doubt, I just needed to make one major decision to be able to leverage that mentality to it's peak potential, so to speak.
The life altering decision, that I would never go back on, was to always finish what I start…from that day forward. From Janurary 1st, 2008, I have never…ever….left a project that I had started, unfinished. If I didn't think it was something that I wasn't 1000% interested in, I just didn't even bother with it. Conversely, if I started a project that I had passion for, I was like a pitbull terrier on a bloody piece of meat, I would not let go until the completion. Sorry about the imagery, but that's really the closest it analogy I can think of to describe my dedication to my goals and the completion of all my projects.
In my world, you either go hard…as hard as you can, or you go home and sit it out. Here's a hint: I don't own a couch.
I leave you with the age old quote:
“There is no try. There is only do, or do not.”-Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back
Thanks Harv for your wisdom. I'm amazed at how many people still choose to live a life of mediocrity. I've chosen to live a life of mastery and significance. As you've said, this comes from a desire and commitment to live a life with discipline.
It's the daily actions that will get us there but only if we can learn to manage our attitude.
I have learned from the game of golf that you need to learn to manage your attitude. If I hit a bad shot, I can mess up the next few shots or even the whole round or I can recover and move forward. That's how life is. We all have “bad shots” in life. It's how we learn to recover that will determine whether we will play in the majors or the minors. I choose to play in the majors.
Wow, Amanda. Thanks for this really insightful post. You have posed many good questions – I am saving this one so I can refer back to it often while I reach for the majors. 🙂
I am in a 2 year group coaching program with 10 other successful coaches and we came up with the saying “Play Big or Get a Job” because for us that are solopreneurs who work from home, going home is a joy and somewhere we currently work. However having to go and get a “JOB” (for me this represents “Just OK Busywork”) seemed more scarey than going home!