The Uncomfortable Truth About Success

I’ve always been an early riser.?

There’s something about getting to the office at 6am when the world is still quiet, the phones aren’t ringing, and you have time to think.?

It’s a gift.?

In those moments, I can really reflect on where we’re going, the moves we need to make, and how to build Hoxton into something even greater.

One morning, as I walked into the office, I noticed something that both surprised and impressed me...

Some of my team were already there.?

I’ve never asked them to come in early, and I certainly don’t demand it from anyone, but there they were—hungry to accelerate their success.?

Before you start to say it...

No one had a gun to their head and was telling them this is what you MUST do to succeed.

They had taken it upon themselves to come in early and push ahead by speaking to people in Australia.?

And personally...I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

We need to understand that hard work isn’t a bad thing.?

It’s not for everyone, and that is totally fine.

But for those who want to push ahead by doing extra productive work over and above their normal working time, shouldn’t this be praised?!

Hard work is misunderstood today

Today there seems to be a narrative going around that working harder than the average person is “toxic” or that putting in extra hours means you’re sacrificing your well-being on a mad hamster wheel.?

Let me tell you—that mindset is flawed.?

Success in any field, whether it’s business, sports, or personal goals, comes with hard work and sacrifice.

That’s not some dated boiler room mindset from the 80s - it’s just facts.

Look at athletes.?

David Beckham didn’t become one of the best footballers by accident. It wasn’t just talent—he worked harder than the rest.?

Beckham was famously always the last one off the training ground, practising his free kicks, set pieces, and corners over and over again.

His father would push him to perfect his technique, and Beckham would stay relentlessly focused on getting better every day.?

Sir Alex Ferguson wrote in his 1999 autobiography;

"He practised with a relentless application that the vast majority of less gifted players wouldn't contemplate” - Sir Alex Ferguson, Managing My Life: My Autobiography

This pattern shows up everywhere you look.?

Anyone who’s achieved something remarkable has put in hours others aren’t willing to.?

Clearly, these hours need to be productive and people need to want to do them - but when you are in a flow state and everything is aligned, it is not a battle.

You truly love what you do and are willing to work hard to be the best at it.

Surely all things being equal, the one who works harder will accomplish more quicker?

Hard work isn’t a punishment—it’s your choice. And for those who want to reach the top, it’s usually the only way to get there.??

For most top performers it also doesn’t feel like hard work - it’s what they want to do.? It is where work and personal life blend into one. Which isn't the terrible toxic thing a lot of people want you to belive.

Be realistic about what it takes

What some people often misunderstand is that a desire for excellence doesn’t mean you’re a bad person or burning yourself out to chase money.?

It just means you’re prioritising what you want out of your life and that just happens to be a killer career.

And you want to accomplish something beyond the normal.

That doesn't make you a bad person.? It doesn’t make you toxic for wanting that - in my view, it should be celebrated.? You are doing something you love and can’t get enough of it!

I’ve never believed in work-life balance being a fixed equation. It’s about priorities and using your time wisely. Maybe that means staying late to build up your client base rather than watching Netflix at home.?

For me, the time I spend with my family is precious and non-negotiable.?

But it’s also about quality over just being around.?

I make our time count—being fully present, engaging, and creating memorable moments with them.

To me, spending hours mindlessly scrolling on my phone or in front of a TV at home isn’t quality time and it's getting me further away from my personal goals.? It’s making me more miserable.??

A prime example is that I am writing this article on a Sunday at 1.30 pm.? My son is in my office with me playing his Playstation and we are having a nice Sunday together! He is doing what he enjoys - and I am doing what I enjoy!

It is my choice to invest my hours building Hoxton, creating something amazing for my family and our future.?

No one told me that I had to do it this way, but deep down I know the extra work I am putting in today will pay dividends later down the line.?

Of course, there are moments when you need to take a break or check in with yourself.?

I have them as much as anyone else.

Burnout is real, and it’s important to know when to take your foot off the pedal - it's normally when you aren’t really enjoying what you are doing and it feels like an uphill struggle.

I find a way to deal with burnout is not to cram all the crap together - break it up throughout my week and have big parts of my day spent on things that give me energy and that I enjoy.

But at some point, you have to make a choice about how much you’re willing to work to reach your goals.

Because if you want to consistently clock in at 9 and clock out at 5 every day without fail you probably are going to get outpaced by someone who wants it more.

The beauty of free choice.

The key here is personal choice.?

If you’re forced to work long hours on something you don’t care about, that’s when the real problems start.?

Hard work needs to come from a deep personal desire to hone a craft you’re passionate about—because spending 12 hours a day on something that doesn’t light a fire under you is an awful way to live.

And that’s usually when burnout creeps in.

The beauty of building a career is that you can choose how it goes.?

If you want to clock in at 9 and leave at 4 or 5, focusing the rest of your time on family or hobbies, that’s a perfectly valid choice.?

There’s nothing wrong with that—it’s a wonderful way to live.

But if you want to build a large business that is not just a lifestyle business quickly — whether it’s a global business, managing a lot of AUM quickly, or maybe an elite athlete—you need to be realistic about what it takes.?

That often means putting in extra hours to make it happen.

Happiness comes from doing hard things

I always remember the feeling that comes from accomplishing something difficult.

That feeling of payoff after all the effort is something I’ve never felt when things came easy.

Success, in any form, doesn’t come from doing the bare minimum.

Ask anyone at the top of their game if they worked as much as everyone else. I guarantee they’ll tell you they worked 2x, 5x harder and prioritised the things that moved the needle towards their goal.

The honest truth is, bar blind luck, there’s no other way to get there.

There’s no right or wrong path in how you build your career—it’s about knowing what you want out of life and being honest with yourself about what you are prepared to do to get there.

Everyone’s choice should be respected

So, don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for working hard to achieve something big.?

Whether you choose a simpler path or are striving to be the best in your field, it’s all about respecting your own choices—and those of others.

If you’re happy with a balanced approach, you’re not lazy or unambitious.?

And if you’re putting in the extra hours to be the best, you’re not toxic.?

The key is knowing what you want and being willing to do what it takes to get there.

Success isn’t handed to most people—it’s earned - typically by working hard.

The only question is, how much are you willing to put in to achieve it?

Thanks for reading Don't Shoot The Messenger?

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