Recently, I’ve been diving into digital marketing in my free time. I’m lucky that my day job isn’t so demanding that I can’t pursue something new on the side. What draws me to digital marketing is that it feels like a challenge. I’m a beginner, so I’m constantly picking up new insights and learning every single day. Currently, my focus is simply to absorb as much information as I can and find useful resources online. My current project is helping my friend’s dad with his e-commerce business. He used to be ahead of the curve in online sales, but as shopping has moved from desktop to mobile, he’s been struggling to keep up.

I’m not helping him out for the money (though getting paid wouldn’t hurt). I’m helping him for the learning experience. The best way to learn is by getting your hands dirty. So I’ve carved out time every day to study, experiment, and make progress. I even mapped out my week to identify where my time is going and found open gaps I can use productively. Turns out I can realistically dedicate 20 to 40 hours a week to learning this craft.

Have I hit 40 hours every week? No. Would I like to? Definitely. But I’m not obsessed with the total number of hours I put in each week. I care far more about the consistency of my daily effort as well as the productivity during the hours I do work.

I truly believe that consistent concentrated effort is the key to success. The effort you put in every day is what moves the needle. Think about this: at some point, you were terrible at everything. You couldn’t walk, talk, or feed yourself. But you learned, slowly and steadily, because someone showed up for you every day and helped you out. As we got older, we received less guidance and more responsibility. While some people lost steam without external motivation, other people kept going because they found an internal drive.

For example, maybe your parents pushed you to play piano (mine did). If it wasn’t your passion, chances are you quit when they stopped paying for lessons. But others kept playing because it meant something to them. That’s a huge part of growing up: deciding what’s worth your time, and then sticking with it regardless of what anyone else thinks.

Motivation isn’t handed out equally. That’s why coaching, consulting, and mentorship are billion-dollar industries. People desire guidance and someone else to motivate them. It’s easier to blindly follow another person’s instructions rather than setting out your own path. But if you want to succeed at anything, you need to dig deeper and find internal motivation to guide yourself.

Telling people what you’re working on isn’t enough. You need to put in the work every day, on good days and bad. Your life should revolve around your mission. Show up consistently, and you’ll get better over time, even if it is only by one percent each day. Most likely, you won’t initially see the fruits of your labor and your own internal progression, but results don’t appear overnight. They are the product of sustained, focused effort.

Think about your goal. Maybe you want to become a doctor, a content creator, land your dream internship, or build serious wealth. Whatever it is, you’re not the only one chasing it: someone out there wants the exact same thing. That’s why I like to frame my goals as a competition, even if it’s just in my head. It keeps me motivated. My goal is to learn digital marketing well enough to turn it into my full-time work. I guarantee someone out there has the same goal. Maybe they started earlier and know significantly more than I do. But a year from now, what will make the difference is how much time and energy each of us put in. If they put in ten hours a week, I’ll do twenty. If they do twenty, I’ll do forty. I may not be guaranteed success, but I’ll at least know I gave myself the best shot.

I think about my goal all the time. When I wake up, I’m already brainstorming ways to improve the business I’m working on. During my nine-to-five, I’m thinking about the next steps. Before bed, I reflect on what I accomplished. My goal isn’t just a dream: it is a reality I’m working to build every single day. I believe the only thing that can stop me is me, so as long as I keep showing up, I know I’ll keep moving forward.

Another powerful source of motivation comes from thinking beyond yourself. Ask yourself—who else benefits if you succeed? Maybe you want to retire your parents, support your family, or create opportunities for your community. When your goals serve a bigger purpose, they carry more weight. You’re not just working for personal success. You find a new level of motivation when showing up every day isn’t just about you: it’s about not letting down the people who believe in you.

Some days, I procrastinate and only manage to get an hour of work done in a four-hour window. Other days, I’m fully focused and fully present, which allows me to knock out more work than I originally thought. But no matter what kind of day I’ve experienced, I am motivated to show up again the next day. That’s the difference. Not every day is going to feel productive. Not every task will be completed perfectly. But I’ve learned that progress isn’t about perfection but rather about consistency. Even on the off days, even when I feel tired or distracted, I try to move the needle just a little bit forward. Because those small steps compound. Over time, those hours add up to real growth. Momentum doesn’t come from occasional bursts of energy. It comes from showing up, especially when you don’t feel like it.

No matter your talent or luck, it’s your ability to stay focused and committed, regardless of the circumstance, that will determine your success. Successful people are willing to make real sacrifices: they’ll give up social events, free time, comfort, and anything that distracts from their mission. They have a North Star: a clear vision that guides their decisions and keeps them grounded when things get tough. While others get pulled in every direction, they stay the course. They’re not immune to setbacks or self-doubt, but they don’t let minor issues shake their purpose. They say no to anything that doesn’t serve their goal, and they do it with intention. Success doesn’t come from working hard once in a while; it comes from showing up consistently, staying focused, and doing the work even when it’s difficult, repetitive, or thankless. That’s what separates those who talk about their goals from those who actually accomplish them.

This isn’t meant to call anyone out. It’s just the truth. Consistency and discipline will get you further than any talent you were born with. Athletes talk about this constantly. Take Tom Brady. He was a sixth-round draft pick—nobody expected much from him. But when the starting quarterback for the Patriots got injured, Brady stepped up and never looked back. He won 5 Super Bowls with the Patriots not because of raw talent, but because of his work ethic. First in the training facility. Last to leave. Every single day. If something really matters to you, you owe it your full effort.

However, I want to be clear. Consistency without discipline is wasted motion. You can show up every day, but if your work isn’t focused, you’re just wasting precious time. On the flip side, discipline without consistency won’t get you far either. You might work hard when you do show up, but if that only happens once in a while, progress will be painfully slow. Thus, you need both. You need to know your goal and commit to working toward it every day, with purpose. Over time, the results will show.

So how do you do that? Here’s a framework that helps me stay on track:

1. Start With the End in Mind

• Define your ultimate goal clearly
• Ask yourself: What do I want to accomplish? Why does it matter? When do I want it by?
• Example: “Build a profitable ecommerce store making $10K/month in 12 months”

2. Reverse Engineer The Goal

• Start from the goal and work backwards
• Break down the big goal into monthly milestones, then weekly targets, then daily tasks
• Example: To hit $10K/month → $2.5K/week → 10 orders/day at $25 average order value

3. Think Big, Think Small

• Think big: Stay focused on the long-term vision
• Think small: Identify the tiny steps that compound
• Example: Think big = Become a top content creator to increase sales
• Example Think small = Post one video daily and review analytics weekly

4. Set Measurable Metrics

• Track your progress
• Define key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Use journals, tools, or dashboards to stay accountable
• Metrics might include: sales, conversion rates, audience growth, content engagement

5. Review and Adapt

• Reflect regularly
• Weekly: What worked? What didn’t?
• Monthly: Are you on pace? What needs to change?
• Adapt your strategy based on what you’re learning

This kind of structure turns your dreams into something real and measurable. You’ll have a clear idea of what to do each day, and you can rest easy knowing that your effort is aligned with your purpose.

So show up motivated for whatever you’re working on. Every single day. Even when you’re tired. Even when it feels slow. Remind yourself of the reason you started, and keep pushing forward. No one else can do it for you. The only thing standing between you and your goal is your ability to show up and put in the work.

So show up. Then show out!