The Daily Work (why most business owners won’t make it)
Most business owners won’t make it.
Not because they don’t have good ideas, not because they aren’t talented, but because they won’t show up every single day and do the daily work - the unglamorous, repetitive, often boring work that actually moves a business forward.
People love the idea of success, but they hate the process required to get there.
I learned this long before I started a business.
I studied oboe for 15 years. I went to Sydney’s pre-eminent music high school (the Conservatorium High School), I did my Bachelor of Music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and I later completed my Master’s at the Royal College of Music in London (and I did most of this on full scholarship).
From when I was about 13 years old I practiced 3-4 hours a day. Every. Single. Day. I used to break this into two sessions - one before school/uni, one after. And when I mean every day, I really did this every day. I did it weekdays, weekends, Christmas Day and I even took my oboe away with me when we went on family holidays.
It wasn’t about motivation. In fact I didn’t really like practice (nor did I really like playing the oboe). It was just what had to be done in order for me to reach the goals I had set for myself and to be the best I could be at playing the oboe (I was eventually pretty good! 😅).
And that same discipline is the reason I’ve built a multi-million-dollar business with no staff. Because I show up and do the work - whether I feel like it or not.
Most people won’t do this. And that’s why most people won’t make it.
Everyone thinks they are working hard - until they actually track it
Ask most business owners if they’re showing up daily and they’ll say yes. But when you break it down? They’re inconsistent at best.
👉 They start making daily Instagram posts, then drop off when they don’t see instant results.
👉 They do daily lead generation for a few days, but stop a few days later when it becomes boring and repetitive
👉 They "don’t have time" to start their side hustle, but they somehow have time for daily Netflix.
So here’s a simple thing you can do: track your time (properly!) for a week.
Not in your head, but with actual data. Simply track every 15 minute increment for a week in your calendar and see where your time is really being spent. Then review it. You’ll probably be shocked at the wasted hours or the things you think you’re doing every day but are actually only doing once or twice a week.
How to build the discipline for daily work (without relying on motivation)
Most people assume discipline is something you’re either born with or not. But it’s not. It’s a skill. And like any skill, you can build it.
Here’s how:
1. Create a minimum standard for yourself
Instead of setting big, overwhelming goals, start with a set of baseline daily non-negotiables. My daily non-negotiable are the cornerstone of my daily work. These are the first things I do every morning when I wake up.
Here are some ideas…
💭 Want to grow your audience and generate more leads? You need content. So commit to posting one thing every day. Even if it’s bad.
💭 Feel overwhelmed with your email inbox? Set 15 minutes aside first thing every morning to get through as many as you can and play a game with yourself to get to inbox zero each day
💭 Want to reduce EOFY headaches with your accounting? Commit to reconciling your books in Xero each morning.
I’m using these as examples as they are just a couple of the exact daily non-negotiable I have for myself each day.
And if you set a few daily non-negotiables for yourself and then committed to doing these every single day, you’d already be ahead of 99% of people.
The key is choosing small, repeatable actions that remove friction and create momentum without relying on motivation.
2. Set ‘Anti-Goals’
Everyone sets goals for what they want to do. But the real key is setting rules for what you won’t do.
For example:
🚫 No alcohol
🚫 No skipping the gym for more than two days in a row
🚫 No meetings in my diary without a clear agenda or need
Again, these are a few of mine to give you some ideas. But you can’t trust motivation.
In fact, I think motivation is a trap. But you can trust a rule that makes decisions for you.
3. Build a system that makes it easy to show up
Most people try to rely on willpower, but willpower is unreliable. Instead, set up your environment to make consistency inevitable.
The first thing I do every morning is check my Notion ‘daily tasks’ dashboard. This has all the tasks listed out that I need to work through for that day. I don’t sit down each morning wondering what I should do. I sit down and get going with ticking off each task.
Here’s the task list I’m working through today:
Make execution effortless. If writing content is a struggle, have pre-made content prompts that you brainstorm in advance. If working out is hard, lay your gym clothes out the night before or book a session with a friend who will hold you accountable.
Eliminate friction. Remove distractions. Block time in your calendar. Treat your most important tasks like appointments you aren’t allowed to cancel with yourself.
If your environment is set up right, discipline becomes automatic.
4. Use public accountability (but not in the way you think)
Telling people your goals doesn’t normally work. But creating external pressure does.
A few ideas for how to do this:
✔ Pre-commit to deadlines publicly. Announce what you’re launching and when. Now you have to deliver.
✔ Create a 'No-Skip' Streak. Post your progress daily. Even if no one else cares, you will.
✔ Bet money on it. Put $500 on the line with a friend - if you don’t follow through, they donate it to a cause you hate.
Most people only take action when there are real stakes involved. So create stakes that will push you.
5. Accept that some work will be boring (and do it anyway)
Everyone wants the glamorous parts of business. The big wins. The success stories. The breakthroughs.
But the daily work is boring.
It’s sitting down at your desk when you don’t feel like it. It’s solving difficult problems or answering annoying emails. It’s posting content. And then it’s doing the reps, day in and day out.
The people who win are the ones who can tolerate boredom and repetition the longest.
Are you really doing the daily work?
If you’re not where you want to be, don’t ask yourself:
"What new strategy do I need?"
Instead, ask:
"Am I actually doing the work - every single day?"
Most people aren’t. And that’s exactly why most people won’t make it.
Thanks for reading and catch you in my next post :)
Clare x
Dr Clare Le Roy
Courses and Templates for Designers and Architects
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These courses and templates leave you with work done - not just a long list of things you need to do next. We have a really strong focus on taking action and getting things created that improve your business.
