Running a business is both incredibly rewarding and exhausting. Over the years, I’ve experienced highs of motivation and productivity, but I’ve also hit those low points, battling burnout and loneliness. In this post, I want to share some of the habits, strategies, and mindset shifts that have helped me stay in the game and maintain the discipline and accountability necessary to keep moving forward. If you’re a founder—or on any long-term entrepreneurial journey—I hope these insights can help you do the same.

Watch on YouTube

Being a single founder can be a lonely journey. For me, working from home, with my wife and kids out for the day, often leaves me in the company of my dog and cats. While solitude has its perks, isolation can be damaging to both motivation and productivity.

One of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship is the idea of the “solopreneur” doing everything on their own. The reality? Success comes from being accountable, whether it’s to your team or an external source.

One simple habit that has had a huge impact on my productivity is making a list of three things I need to get done each day. I literally put the notebook on my keyboard so it’s the first thing I see before starting my day. These can be small tasks, but they are important things that move the needle. I prefer to write the list in the morning so I have a fresh perspective on what matters most that day.

This simple act keeps me focused on what’s essential, rather than getting distracted by Slack or email first thing in the morning. It’s about prioritizing effectiveness over productivity—doing what matters most rather than just doing more things.

Another aspect of accountability that I’ve found useful is sharing my work with my team. Whether it’s a new YouTube video or an internal operations playbook, I post it in Slack for feedback and accountability. It not only helps me feel more productive, but it also fosters a sense of friendly competition among my team.

We all have tough days, but one of the worst habits I’ve fallen into is bitching and complaining when things aren’t going well. It’s easy to get stuck in a negative loop—SEO is dead, cold outreach doesn’t work, our customers are too price-sensitive, and so on. But in reality, no business is perfect. Focusing on the negatives too much paralyzes progress.

Instead, I’ve learned to compartmentalize the challenges and move forward. Acknowledge the imperfections in your business, but don’t let them dominate your thoughts. Staying active, shipping, and doing the work will always outweigh overanalyzing the flaws in your business.

As founders, we often get discouraged by focusing too much on outcomes. It’s tempting to start a marketing channel and expect instant results. But the reality is, you need to put in sustained effort over time to see results. I’ve learned that it’s more productive to focus on inputs—the work we’re putting in—rather than getting fixated on the immediate results.

For example, if you’re investing in a new marketing strategy like LinkedIn outreach, give it time. Stick with it for a quarter before evaluating its success. Switching strategies too quickly leads to rash decisions and missed opportunities.

Lastly, one mistake I’ve made is trying to do all parts of a project at once—strategy, planning, and execution. I’ve found that separating planning from doing yields better results. For instance, with a YouTube video, I focus on planning and scripting first, and then tackle the actual recording when I’m fresh the next day. Trying to do everything at once burns me out and results in lower quality work.

Being a founder is a long game, and the key to longevity is building the right habits and support systems. Whether it’s finding community, staying accountable, or structuring your workday for focus, these small changes can lead to big improvements. And remember, it’s about progress, not perfection.

I’d love to hear your thoughts—what habits help you stay productive and accountable as a founder? Drop a comment or message me to share!

Plus i share an update on https://myfounderpal.com – an accountability community for SaaS founders.