The Practice Nobody Sees
Everyone wants to talk about game day. The big win. The major client signing. The successful placement. But nobody wants to talk about 5 AM workouts and 100 daily outreach attempts that got them there.
Here’s what I’ve noticed after watching successful people in our industry: Success isn’t mysterious. It’s methodical. And it looks a lot more like an athlete’s training regimen than a magical formula.
The most successful people I know treat their business like professional athletes treat their sport. They’re up at 5 AM, not because some motivational speaker told them to, but because that’s what the job requires. They’re in the office by 6:30 AM, planning their day while their competition is still hitting the snooze button.
But here’s the thing about being methodical: it’s boring. Nobody wants to hear that you need to make 100 outreach attempts every single day. That it takes 8-14 touchpoints to get a real conversation. That you need to maintain contact with key clients four times a week. That’s not sexy. It doesn’t make for good social media content.
What works is having a system. A real one. Not just a collection of good intentions.
Your days should be time-blocked like a military operation. Your goals should cascade down from your 10-year vision like a well-designed software architecture. Your team should operate with the precision of a professional sports franchise, complete with daily huddles and clear performance metrics.
But here’s what nobody tells you: The system only works if you work it every single day. Not when you feel motivated. Not when things are going well. Every. Single. Day.
The most successful people I know aren’t waiting for motivation to strike. They’re not hoping for the perfect moment. They’re showing up, following their system, and putting in the work - whether they feel like it or not.
It’s about building a foundation that can weather any storm. Multiple revenue streams. Diverse industry connections. Strong financial infrastructure. These aren’t nice-to-haves. They’re how you survive and thrive in the long game.
Success leaves clues. And the biggest clue is this: The people who win in business are the ones who treat it like a professional athlete treats their sport - with discipline, consistency, and an unwavering commitment to the process.
The highlight reel might look exciting, but it’s the practice nobody sees that makes all the difference.