You Can’t Do Epic Sh*t with BASIC People

At the many requests of readers and supporters, I continue to periodically touch on the topic of what it usually takes to get the job done — no matter the time or sacrifice — especially for entrepreneurs. Simply put, most great things will not happen on a 9:00 am to 5:00 pm schedule.

Sometimes a great outcome might happen within 40 hours a week or even 32 hours a week. However, those achievements are likely the result of many reps that improved your efficiency and understanding of the task at hand. Generally speaking, it’s going to happen when it’s going to happen — and truly challenging goals do not have artificial timelines applied to them. In most cases, extraordinary effort, commitment, and sacrifice are required.

I recently worked with an entrepreneur who was struggling to grow his business. He wasn’t taking a side-hustle approach — he was all in. He didn’t have a family of his own, health constraints, or other pressing life commitments that justifiably demand attention. He’s young and seemingly eager, but unrealistic in thinking he can check out at 5:30 pm each day.

In the same week, I spoke with another entrepreneur about his rapidly emerging company. He tells his team, “We’re not a 9:00 am to 5:00 pm company — we work until the job gets done.” He compensates accordingly and rewards his people. I was impressed with his model, his commitment to his team, and the reciprocal commitment to him and his company’s growth. He committed himself first and established a culture that enables others to commit and believe in their effort.

The first individual needs to come to the hard reality that whether you’re a businessperson, artist, engineer, astronaut, or anything else — you work until the job is done and done right.

Some tasks may take less time than others. But at the end of the day, there is always another job to do. I have commented before that imbalance — at least in moderation — is often necessary to persevere and grow in whatever your endeavor may be.

The lesson I’ve learned from working with several bright young entrepreneurs recently is that they are not always prepared for the reality that awaits them. There may be no personal compensation as they stabilize their business. It may require 100-hour weeks, constantly fluid schedules that never quite settle, and dozens of unknowns. The same can be true for non-founders as well — although their risk and reward should align fairly with their role.

There’s a running joke among my colleagues and friends that if I have time to watch too much TV or twiddle my thumbs, something isn’t right.

If you can start or maintain a company working strictly a 9:00 am to 5:00 pm schedule — that’s incredible. However, for the vast majority, it’s unrealistic. I want people to set expectations appropriately and be prepared to work tirelessly. That is often the clearest path to achieving your vision.

Remember: challenging goals and great accomplishments do not follow artificial timelines or fixed hours.

By Chris Sinclair
Founder, The Anthem Group