Why Hunger and Sacrifice Lead to Success⌗

Hey there! 👋

Ever wonder why some people seem to crush it at work or in life while others struggle to get off the starting block? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately—both in my DevSecOps world and in personal growth—and I’ve come to some interesting conclusions about what separates high performers from everyone else.

The Hunger Games (Not the Movie!)⌗

Let’s talk about hunger first. No, not the “I skipped lunch” kind—I’m talking about that deep-down, burning desire to create something better for yourself. This is what drives people like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and David Goggins. These folks aren’t just smart; they’re hungry.

I’ve noticed this in my own career journey too. When I transitioned into cloud security, I wasn’t just looking for a better paycheck (though that’s nice!). I had this insatiable desire to solve bigger problems and make a real impact. That hunger kept me going through those late nights learning AWS Well Architected best practices when everyone else was binging Netflix.

But here’s the reality check: according to a 2016 Gallup poll, a whopping 87.6% of people globally are unhappy because they feel they don’t have what they “deserve.” That’s a huge disconnect! Success isn’t about what you deserve—it’s about what you earn through consistent effort.

The “S” Word: Sacrifice⌗

Now comes the part nobody wants to talk about at motivational seminars: Sacrifice.

High performers understand that you can’t have it all—at least not simultaneously. Want to launch that side project? You might miss some weekend barbecues. Building a business? Those 40-hour workweeks might turn into 60+ hours for a while.

I remember missing my cousin’s wedding because I was deep in a critical AWS migration project. Did it suck? Absolutely. Was it worth it for my long-term growth? In retrospect, yes. That project opened doors that changed my career trajectory.

Here’s a quick self-check: Would you be willing to:

  • Work through a holiday weekend to complete a game-changing project?
  • Miss a social event to take advantage of a learning opportunity?
  • Wake up at 5 AM to get ahead on your goals before the day starts?

If you hesitated on any of these, that’s totally normal! But it’s also worth examining whether your current sacrifice level matches your ambition level.

Self-Esteem: The Foundation of Performance⌗

Perhaps the most interesting pattern I’ve observed in high performers is their level of self-esteem. Not ego or arrogance—but a genuine belief in their ability to figure things out and add value.

This one hit home for me. Coming from a challenging background, I had to deliberately build my self-esteem by surrounding myself with people who were already successful. It’s like learning how to effectively use a new AWS service—you can read the documentation all day, but hanging out with experienced cloud architects who have proven success working with these services will accelerate your learning exponentially.

I’ve found that the people in my network who consistently deliver exceptional results all share this trait: they genuinely believe they’re capable of greatness. And fascinatingly, this often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The “Snowflake” Problem⌗

Let’s address the elephant in the room: our collective resilience seems to be declining. Data points to decreasing physical strength and testosterone levels as evidence, but I see this playing out in professional settings too.

In tech, I’ve watched promising junior engineers fold after causing their first major production failure, or tough code review. This isn’t about being tough for toughness’ sake—it’s about developing the ability to withstand pressure and keep moving forward. Every significant advancement in my career came after a period of intense discomfort or uncertainty.

Learning Through Failure: My Fork in the Road⌗

I don’t talk about this often, but a few years back, I was laid off from what had been a stable and satisfying job. I am the single provider for my family, so the weight of the situation was significant. But I chose to ignore the bad. There was no way was I going to end up a failure, so why worry? There is a Chinese proverb about The Farmer’s Son that teaches events that seem good or bad at first, may not truly be so in the long run. Guess what, I didn’t fail. A new opportunity presented itself that would never have been on my radar otherwise. That “failure” turned out to be the best career, and personal development event of my life.

This pattern repeats with virtually every high performer I’ve studied. Steve Jobs’ exile from Apple in the 80s led to the experiences that made his triumphant return possible. Elon Musk nearly went bankrupt before Tesla and SpaceX succeeded. David Goggins transformed from an overweight pest exterminator to an ultra-endurance athlete through repeated failure and persistence.

Taking Action: The Only Way Forward⌗

If there’s one thing my years in DevSecOps have taught me, it’s that planning is essential, but execution is everything. You can design the most elegant system architecture in the world, but until you deploy it, it’s just a pretty diagram.

The same applies to personal growth. Want to be a high performer? Start by:

  1. Doing something that scares you daily - For me, this is publishing content online. I was terrified about being judged at first, but forcing myself to present my ideas clearly has transformed my online presence.

  2. Taking immediate action on ideas - When you have a spark of inspiration, implement a minimum viable version immediately. Don’t let it cool off. Seeing an idea come to life will inspire you to keep developing it.

  3. Embracing accountability - Find someone who will call you out when you’re making excuses. I check-in regularly with an old friend who knows my goals and doesn’t let me off the hook. David Goggins talks about the accountability mirror. Get comfortable looking at yours.

The most successful people I know make decisions quickly and take immediate action. They understand that imperfect action beats perfect planning every time.

What You Need to Build Your High-Performance Engine⌗

  • A clear objective
  • Continuous learning
  • Boundaries to protect your time and energy
  • The ability to handle increasing pressure
  • An honest assessment of your performance

The Path Forward⌗

Building this high-performance mindset isn’t easy or comfortable, but neither is anything worth doing. The combination of hunger, willingness to sacrifice, healthy self-esteem, and embracing failure as feedback creates an unstoppable force.

I’ve seen this formula work in my own life despite starting with plenty of disadvantages. The transformation from where I began to supporting complex cloud environements didn’t happen by accident—it happened through the exact principles outlined here.

The question isn’t whether these principles work; it’s whether you’re willing to apply them consistently, even when it’s difficult. Especially when it’s difficult.

What one small action could you take today to start building your high-performance engine? What “comfortable” habit could you sacrifice to make room for growth?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! Follow me on X for more practical tips on achieving success in tech and life.

Remember: the journey to high performance starts with a single, intentional step.

Let’s get after it! 💪