Last year, over 26,818 pieces of content were published on the New York Times about working less—embracing the 4-day work week, letting AI do the heavy lifting, and chasing passive income dreams. The idea of working less is appealing (duh). Who wouldn’t want to spend more time doing things they enjoy? But here’s the thing: let me know how anything in your life succeeds if you only spend four hours a week on it (sorry, Tim). I get the point The 4-Hour Work Week is making—it’s not about doing less, it’s about maximizing efficiency and leverage. But the reality is, anything that thrives, anything that improves, anything worth having—takes effort.

They say the perfect dream job has three things: high pay, low stress, and passion. That’s the trifecta, right? But it’s rare. And honestly, maybe it doesn’t even matter. Lately, I’ve been realizing that the issue isn’t with work itself—work isn’t bad. In fact, when I look at where I’ve made the most progress in life, it’s come from treating things like a job. We show up to work regardless of how we feel. We don’t sit around waiting to feel inspired. We don’t say, I’ll write that email when I’m in the right headspace. We just do the work.

You hear it all the time: Date like it’s your job. Or, He’s a lunch-pail player. These ideas come from the way we approach work—structured, disciplined, consistent. Most of us aren’t artists or athletes, and we don’t have the luxury of waiting for motivation. We just do the work (and so do they). And when we do, we see progress.

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Almost everyone claims to hate their job. People dream about working less, making passive income, retiring early. But if we zoom out—if we look at the bigger picture—the problem isn’t work itself. It’s how we treat everything outside of work that’s the issue.

We grind away at our jobs, and then we go home and put zero structure into the things that actually matter—our health, our relationships, our goals.

We say we want to get in shape, but we don’t approach it with the same consistency we bring to our careers.

We say we want a better relationship, but we don’t put in the effort to make it better.

We say we want to be financially free, but we don’t track our spending, let alone build a plan.

So what if we did?

What if we treated everything in life with the same discipline, structure, and consistency we bring to our jobs?

What if we treated our relationships like they were our most important client? You’d listen closely, remember the little details, and go the extra mile to show you care. You’d set boundaries and terms, sure, but you’d also book the dinner reservation at their favorite restaurant because they mentioned it once. You’d look at other successful couples, take notes, and try to emulate what works. You’d do the work, and you’d be successful because you were intentional.

Or the gym: What if you approached fitness like your job? You’d show up daily, track your progress, and make steady improvements. You’d do the foundational habits and maybe even some of the trends—saunas, sea moss (gross)—because that’s what you’re supposed to do.

The same goes for finances. What if you managed them like an accountant? You’d track every dollar, make your money work for you, and save for that furniture from wherever the cool kids in LA get theirs (probably vintage dead stock). You’d stick to your budget and focus on long-term goals instead of blowing your paycheck on Star Wars 4,000-piece LEGO sets (guilty).

The key is shifting from autopilot to effort.

Effort is everything.

Effort, according do Websters Dictionary is conscious exertion of power, a serious attempt.

Too often, we go through the motions, work to get through the day, and end up too tired to do anything meaningful with our free time. Then we waste that time doing nothing of value. I think that’s why older generations hate us—they always had something to do, or at least that’s what they say.

David Goggins is dramatic, but once said he doesn’t think about happiness; he focuses on progress. Progress, not feelings, is tangible. Feelings come and go, but progress lasts. That’s the lesson: stop waiting for motivation or inspiration. It’s a trap.