I’ve often thought of myself as an opportunist who is ambitiously lazy – and I’ve even described myself this way to those in my close circle. If I had a spirit animal, it would be the lion.
“Mother Nature abhors waste. That’s why she encoded every cell in your body with programming that instructs it to use as little energy as possible.” – Dave Asprey
A lion is the perfect analogy for being ambitiously lazy because it embodies strategic efficiency. It doesn’t waste energy chasing every opportunity – it waits, watches, and strikes only when the odds are in its favor. Just like a lion, an opportunist who is ambitiously lazy isn’t constantly grinding. Instead, he positions himself for success, leverages his strengths, and capitalizes on high-value moments. The lion rests confidently, knowing that when the time comes, it will dominate with minimal effort but maximum impact.
What Does It Mean to Be Ambitiously Lazy?
Ambitiously Lazy – The art of optimizing life for maximum results with minimal wasted effort. It’s not about being lazy in the traditional sense – it’s about being ruthlessly efficient, prioritizing high-leverage activities, and designing systems that do the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. The goal isn’t to grind endlessly; it’s to build a life where success compounds effortlessly because you’ve put the right pieces in place. It’s working smarter, not harder – so you can enjoy the freedom and flexibility that true wealth provides.
The Best Time to Grind
The best time to grind is in your twenties and early-to-mid thirties. But even during this period, it’s critical to start developing tools and rules that allow you to be strategic. At first, you learn how to work hard – but eventually, you must learn how to work smart.
In the early years of your wealth-building journey, time is your greatest asset. If you want to achieve extraordinary success on accelerated timelines, you have to be willing to put in the time and hard work. Long hours are necessary in the beginning – but the key is making sure those hours are spent building leverage, not just treading water.
The sad truth? Most people don’t realize how valuable time is. They don’t realize that time is the only non-renewable resource we have. They don’t recognize it as an asset at all – until it’s too late and time is working against them.
Playing the Game Like a Lion
To “live like a lion” and become “king of the jungle,” you have to be willing to do what most won’t—sacrifice comfort, put in the reps, and strategically position yourself for dominance. But that doesn’t mean you have to grind endlessly. The lion isn’t the strongest animal, nor is it the fastest – but it is the most efficient. It knows when to push, when to wait, and when to strike.
Likewise, being ambitiously lazy isn’t about avoiding work; it’s about mastering the right work at the right time – so that one day, you don’t have to. If you lay the right foundation early, you can shift from being the hunter to the one who commands the territory.
Instead of constantly chasing opportunities, you will see opportunities come to you. Your wealth, network, and systems work on your behalf. You’re no longer in survival mode; you’re in control. It’s the difference between someone who has to hustle forever and someone who builds a life where success and wealth compound with less active effort over time.
That’s the real game. Not just wealth, but freedom. Not just success, but sustainability.
Because the ultimate flex? Owning your time.
– Gen Y Finance Guy
4 Responses
Very good. I think I’ve achieved this.
Great!
This is a great post! I can really relate to being ambitiously lazy. I’m at the point in my career where I don’t need to attend every meeting, take every trip, or tag in to every sale. I focus on the few areas where I can make the most impact, and ruthlessly ignore the BS. It’s liberating!
Another way I look at it is to maximize my hourly rate by evaluating every meeting and opportunity. Will this increase my hourly rate or decrease it? If it’s not moving the needle for me, then I skip it. This philosophy has freed me from the hamster wheel even while still being in the race.
Thanks for sharing this important philosophy!
Thanks, Tom. Glad you found this concept to resonate and that you are already harnessing it.