Running a business isn’t for everyone.

Running a business isn’t for everyone. Sure, anyone can do it—it’s not rocket science. But to run a business well and succeed takes a couple of crucial skills.

Some fortunate folks are born with them, and others have to work to develop them.

Fun fact: I belong to the latter group.

Operating a successful business takes more than just a good idea and hard work. You need real discipline—a lot of it. Self-motivation is non-negotiable. When no one’s watching, you still have to show up, push through the losses, and celebrate the wins, even if it’s just you. Self-motivation is table stakes. And when shit inevitably hits the fan—your team quits, a big client bails, a pandemic rolls in, or some oompa loompa introduces a new tariff—the only thing that’ll get you through is your drive to keep going.

You also have to be somewhat of a visionary. You need big goals that make you uncomfortable. You need to be able to see an opportunity that most people can't. As your business grows, you have to keep setting new goals and moving the goalposts. Not everyone is born with that visionary trait, but you can work to develop it.

That goes back to staying motivated—your goals should be uncomfortable. There should be a big problem you’re trying to solve, a reason why you’re doing it. You need to work daily to achieve that.

Which is why, along with vision, you also need to be an excellent executor. Especially in the early days, when it’s just you or a few team members, you have to be willing to get your hands dirty. You have to be able to get your hands dirty. And most of all, you have to be damn good at doing the thing you're doing when your hands are dirty. If you're just alright at it, no one will pay you to do it. They'll find someone better, cheaper, or more accessible.

There will be tough days. Distractions will pop up. Life will throw curveballs. That’s when discipline, focus, and motivation matter most. But even in the daily grind, you’ve got to keep looking ahead—always thinking about the next goal and the next step for your business.

So, the reason I say it’s not for everyone is because of those key traits: discipline, motivation, vision, and execution. Not everybody is all of those things or is born with all those qualities. You can develop them if you’re passionate and willing to work on them. But if you think you’ll get by on just an idea and hard work alone, you're destined to fail.

At the end of the day, it’s not about having all the answers—it’s about being relentless enough to figure things out and get it done.