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We live in a world that’s become increasingly obsessed with quick fixes.
The 7-day diet. Go viral instantly. Become a millionaire in a few months. We’re always looking for ways to get difficult things done faster, easier, and cheaper.
But when we approach goals like this, we completely miss something that is fundamental to long-term success.
The pleasure of doing something properly.
I’m talking about writing a robust, thoughtful, and thorough email that actually helps answer a client’s question. Following up on a promise you made to someone. Delivering A+ work on time, when you said you would.
These aren’t the sexiest parts of building a business. And you certainly won’t find a viral social media post about how someone emailed properly organized files or sent a well-written contract that was easy for a client to execute.
But when you do the small business tasks well, everything else seems to get a whole heckuva lot easier.
Your clients trust you more. Your reputation grows steadily. And opportunities start finding you instead of the other way around.
There’s a reason some businesses succeed while others struggle. It’s not always the giant strategic moves you read about in Entrepreneur or see on the news. Often, it’s the accumulation of many small things done properly.
Because when you cut corners on the basics, you train yourself to accept mediocrity. When you do things properly, you create a standard around how you do work. How you do one thing is how you do everything.
I’m not talking about perfectionism. It’s simply about recognizing that your standards ultimately become your brand.
If you can’t be bothered to proofread an email or show up on time to a meeting, why would someone trust you with their money? I know I wouldn’t.
If you make countless mistakes in every client interaction, what does that say about how you’ll handle their full project? When people give you a preview of their work and they miss the little details, that’s just who they are. Believe them.
And the pleasure of doing something properly isn’t just about the thing itself. It’s about the person you become in the process.
Someone who cares. Someone who pays attention. Someone who understands that delivering great work is a habit that’s built — not some accident.
Start small. Pick one business task you do regularly and do it properly. Maybe it’s getting a client onboarded effectively. Maybe it’s sending better project updates. Or how you handle money. It doesn’t matter what it is; it just matters that you do it thoughtfully, completely, and correctly.
Then pick another task. And another.
You’ll discover that the pleasure isn’t just in the outcome. It’s about becoming someone reliable. About the confidence that comes from knowing you deliver the best work possible.
In a world that rewards hustle, choosing to do things properly is almost countercultural.
But it’s also profitable.
Because the business owner who does small things well is the same person who builds something that lasts.
And that business?
That business has real value.
What’s your take on today’s topic? Do you agree, disagree, or is there something I missed?
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Omg the timing of this post! I’ve really enjoyed my work lately and was just reflecting today that it’s because I’ve been giving myself the breathing room to really sink into the craft of my work—not just the bigger deliverables but small tasks like emails too. I think a big challenge for small business owners being able to do this is because often so many people feel stretched too thin or have life stuff happening. Over the past year or two, I’ve made a concerted effort to manage my capacity better + hire support and that’s helped me really do work that I’m really enjoying and reflects my standards. I love how you’ve put the importance of this into words, Justin!! It’s really validating to read. Thank you :)
Love this Justin. I have a post-it up on my window facing my desk it says "Be a pro." Which is basically this. There is something really wonderful about doing something properly.