Success is not about waking up one day and finding yourself at the finish line. It’s about taking deliberate, consistent actions every single day, even when no one is looking. Over my career as a serial entrepreneur, I’ve observed a clear pattern: the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t often boils down to discipline.
Disciplined individuals create habits that reinforce their goals. They commit themselves to systems that outlast fleeting motivation and short-term excitement. These systems work silently in the background, helping them achieve progress when others falter. Let me share the eight habits that have been a game-changer for myself and other long-term winners I’ve worked with or studied.
1. Consistency Over Flashy Performances
Those who win in the long run don’t chase quick results. Instead, they stay consistent. For example, if you look at marathon runners, it’s not their one-off sprints that condition them for the race, it’s their daily runs, building physical and mental endurance. The same principle applies to business and life. Working for 30 minutes every day on a specific skill or project will deliver more results than working in bursts and burning out.
If consistency is something you struggle with, start small. Set micro-goals for the week instead of ambitious targets. Tools like Todoist or the Pomodoro Tracker can help you establish consistency, one small victory at a time.
2. Creating Systems, Not Relying On Motivation
Motivation is exciting while it lasts, but it’s fleeting. Disciplined people don’t gamble on how they feel on a given day. Instead, they build systems, repeatable routines that guide them toward productivity even on bad days. For example, in my own work, I schedule “focus blocks” where distractions like email and notifications are turned off. The system ensures that I work efficiently, even when I’m not feeling my best.
Try designing your environment to align with your goals. If you want to write more, leave a pen and notebook on your desk at all times. Remove friction from the habits you want to form.
3. Saying “No” Often
People mistakenly think being disciplined means doing more. In reality, it’s about doing less but doing the most important things well. Successful individuals understand the power of focusing on high-priority tasks and activities that align with their goals. They master the art of saying “no” to opportunities, social commitments, and tasks that would dilute their attention.
Try this: audit your calendar and to-do list this week. What commitments can you eliminate? If saying “no” feels uncomfortable, reframe it as protecting your bigger yes, your long-term goals.
4. Delaying Gratification
In business and life, instant rewards rarely lead to lasting success. People who succeed long-term master the ability to resist short-term temptations in favor of bigger rewards. Think about entrepreneurs who reinvest profits back into their startups instead of taking salaries in the beginning. This mindset enables their businesses to grow exponentially.
If you’re looking to practice delayed gratification, start by identifying a habit where instant results are tempting you. Whether it’s checking your phone instead of reading or splurging on unnecessary subscriptions, recognize the trade-off. Apps like Freedom can help block distractions while you work.
5. Integrating Health Into Success
Your body is not separate from your business. Long-term achievers treat their health, both physical and mental, as an extension of their professional endeavors. They prioritize sleep, nutrition, and exercise, as these directly influence productivity and creativity.
Simple hacks like walking 15 minutes daily or swapping coffee for water after lunch can stack up to major results. Many successful individuals track their physical habits just as meticulously as they monitor business performance. Looking for a starting point? Apps like MyFitnessPal can help track daily habits.
6. Learning to Self-Account
The most disciplined people don’t wait for external accountability to deliver results. They hold themselves to their commitments, even in solitude. Self-accountability is a skill, and it starts with creating clear goals and tracking progress. For example, I journal every evening about what worked and what didn’t during the day. Over time, this practice keeps me honest and ensures I’m not drifting.
If you’re new to self-accountability, tools like Notion or simple habit trackers can make it easier to reflect regularly.
7. Balancing Effort and Recovery
Grinding 24/7 is a one-way ticket to burnout. Disciplined individuals understand the rhythm of hard work and recovery. They plan times to pause, reflect, and rejuvenate. Whether it’s through meditation, short walks, or creating buffer zones in their schedules, these moments of reset fuel long-term output.
If you’ve been feeling stuck or tired lately, experiment with scheduled breaks. The Headspace app offers quick mindfulness exercises to help recharge during busy days.
8. Thinking Long-Term
Short-term thinking often derails people. Those who succeed embrace the long game. They consider the compounding effects of their actions over months or even years. For example, investing in skills like public speaking or coding might not yield results immediately but will open doors a few years down the road.
If long-term thinking doesn’t come naturally, try setting goals with monthly checkpoints. Tools such as Trello can help you break down large achievements into manageable steps.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Even with the best intentions, many people fall into habits that undermine their discipline. Here are three common missteps:
- Starting Too Big: Setting overly ambitious habits leads to quicker burnout. Begin small.
- Not Tracking Progress: Without insight into your efforts, it’s impossible to know whether something works. Keep a journal or use trackers.
- Ignoring Rest: More effort doesn’t mean more output. Rest fuels consistency.
Takeaways For Entrepreneurs, Founders, and Builders
If your ambition is to build something worthwhile, discipline is your best ally. Commit to consistency, build supportive systems, and prioritize your long-term goals. By focusing on the habits that matter most, you’ll avoid burnout and create sustainable success over time. Whether you’re just starting out as a solopreneur or scaling your fifth startup, these habits transcend industries and scale.
Your future self isn’t built by decisions made sporadically. It’s created by showing up every day, even when it’s inconvenient. Success isn't glamorous in the moment; it's deliberate. Start small, stay consistent, and watch how the compounding effect changes your career.
FAQ
1. How does consistency impact long-term success?
Consistency involves daily, incremental progress rather than intense efforts in short bursts. Over time, this compounding effect leads to sustainable success. Read more about consistency in discipline
2. Why are systems more reliable than motivation?
Systems are structured routines that operate regardless of emotional state, ensuring daily productivity even when motivation fluctuates. Learn more about system-building
3. How does saying “no” influence success?
Disciplined individuals prioritize high-value tasks by saying "no" to distractions, protecting time and energy for long-term goals. Discover the power of saying no
4. Why is delayed gratification crucial for success?
Resisting short-term temptations allows individuals to focus on goals that yield greater rewards over time. Understand delayed gratification
5. What role does health play in achieving professional success?
Physical and mental health enhance productivity and creativity, making them essential aspects of long-term success. Learn more about integrating health into success
6. How can self-accountability improve discipline?
Disciplined people track progress and reflect daily, ensuring alignment with goals without external pressure. Check out insights on self-accountability
7. Why is effort balanced with recovery important?
Scheduled breaks prevent burnout and maximize long-term productivity by promoting mental and physical renewal. Explore the importance of recovery
8. How do disciplined individuals maintain a long-term mindset?
They focus on the compounding effects of actions over years rather than short-term gains, building sustainable success. Discover more about long-term thinking
9. What are common mistakes that undermine discipline?
Starting too ambitiously, failing to track progress, and neglecting rest often lead to burnout and reduced effectiveness. Read about common pitfalls
10. How can entrepreneurs benefit from disciplined habits?
By building habits like consistency, systemization, and prioritization, entrepreneurs can create scalable and sustainable success. Learn more about habits for entrepreneurs
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.