@zachpogrob
Obsession beats discipline - go all-in on your craft until you either die or get reborn.
The Bar Is Low Framework
A mental model recognizing that most people do not actually execute on their intentions, making competition largely illusory. The majority are not serious, not all-in, and not shipping. Simply showing up consistently puts you ahead of 95% of people.
How It Works
People overestimate competition because they see announced intentions, not actual output. Every wedding, vacation, social event, and distraction your competitors attend is time they are not working. Most rivals are playing a different, easier game. The serious players are a tiny fraction of the apparent competition.
Components
Observe competitors' actual output, not their stated intentions or follower counts
Notice how much time competitors spend on non-work activities
Calculate your potential output if you are genuinely all-in
Focus on execution rather than competitive analysis
Maintain high personal standards while recognizing external bar is low
When to Use
When intimidated by competition or established players. When imposter syndrome makes you hesitate to enter a market. When you need motivation to start despite seeming disadvantages.
When Not to Use
When using this as an excuse for low standards in your own work. When underestimating the few people who ARE genuinely all-in. When confusing 'bar is low' with 'success is easy'.
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Example
“A founder hesitates to enter a market with large established players. Applying this framework, they realize these companies have thousands of employees going to meetings, attending weddings, taking vacations, and going home at 5pm. The founder commits to working 16 hours daily on the specific problem. The bar is low because no one is as serious as they will be.”