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For the modern entrepreneur, it’s all about the grind: early morning ice baths, answering emails while working out, drinking coffee chased by an energy drink, and working late nights while watching Netflix. It’s the hustle-and-grind culture of today’s self-made business builder, piling venture upon venture, gig upon gig, all based on the belief that success is about being busy and doing more things. Craig Ballantyne, who earned the title of “The World’s Most Disciplined Man” because his friends said he was the most productive person they knew, has seen and lived the 5 a.m. wakeups, the ice baths, and the 16-hour days.
At the end of it all, worn down and burnt out, the most important thing he got out of it was a question. Did all these habits actually help, or were they holding him back? He’s come to a controversial conclusion. He now argues the key to success isn’t doing more but doing less with greater focus.
The Wall Street Journal bestselling author now lives his new mission of teaching business owners how to simplify success instead of suffering for it. His book, The Dark Side of Discipline, co-authored with business coach Daniel Woodrum, offers a counterintuitive approach: discipline isn’t about forcing yourself to do more. It is about cutting out what isn’t necessary and focusing more on what is.
The success trap
Ballantyne lived the grind culture and came out of it ragged and worn down. Overwhelmed by work, he suffered crippling anxiety, honestly believing that he wasn’t doing enough and that if he could work even harder, he would succeed.
“I didn’t have systems or outlets for dealing with stress until after it was too late,” he states.
After some reflection, he realized that his stress came from doing too many so-called “good things.” But the good things got in the way of him doing great things. This realization pushed him to develop a new system based on working smarter, not harder.
That’s where Woodrum comes in. As Head Business Coach at Early To Rise, he helps entrepreneurs apply these success principles in real-world scenarios. He and Ballantyne have worked with thousands of business owners, proving that eliminating unnecessary tasks leads to massive breakthroughs.
“One of my biggest lessons as a coach,” Woodrum explains, “is that most people aren’t struggling with not doing enough — they’re struggling with saying no.”
Together, Woodrum and Ballantyne help busy business owners identify what matters and make more time for what does while eliminating what doesn’t. As a result, they have coached over 250 entrepreneurs from struggling to millionaire status, showing that true success doesn’t come from grinding longer hours—it comes from working with intention.
The liberation principle
“The true definition of discipline is simple,” Ballantyne says, “It’s putting level 10 effort into their level 10 problem. Anything else is a perverse form of procrastination.”
His level 10 concept helps entrepreneurs shift from struggle to simplicity. Instead of piling on more tasks, he teaches them to eliminate distractions and focus only on what drives real impact.
For evidence of his philosophy’s success, Ballantyne prefers proof in practice. He has applied these principles to his own life and prioritizes time with his three young children despite running multiple seven-figure businesses.
“I’m the father of 3-under-3, and the same discipline, systems, and standards that have grown my businesses allow me to be a present father and husband,” he says.
Ballantyne’s next primary goal with Woodrum is to help thousands of entrepreneurs generate billions in new wealth while making sure they gain more time instead of losing it. For those who feel trapped and overworked, the solution might not be more effort but more focus. This idea may seem challenging, but it’s straightforward: Real success should create freedom, not stress.
Connect with Craig Ballantyne and Daniel Woodrum on social media to learn how to stop struggling and work smarter.
