Build. Ship. Repeat. The Quiet Power of Consistency
How routines, rituals, and daily reps drive long-term momentum
There’s a myth we carry — maybe even admire — in the startup world: that brilliance happens in big, chaotic bursts. That creativity is fueled by pressure. That "getting in the zone" is the key to breakthrough thinking. But if you're leading a company, managing a team, or trying to build something lasting — chaos is the enemy.
The deeper you get into leadership and building businesses, the more many start to realize that you don’t rise to the level of your vision — you fall to the level of your systems. And the systems most founders neglect are the ones that live inside their own day. What time do you wake up? When do you write? When do you make the hard calls? What are the rituals that give shape to your week? These details are rarely glamorous — but they are deeply consequential.
Take Jeff Bezos, for example. He famously protects his mornings for high-leverage thinking, never schedules meetings before 10 a.m., and prioritizes eight hours of sleep — not because he’s soft, but because he understands energy is a founder’s most valuable asset. Barack Obama took it a step further in the White House by eliminating trivial decisions altogether — wearing the same suits, eating the same meals — so he could preserve mental bandwidth for what mattered. Routine isn’t restrictive; it’s a force multiplier. The fewer choices you have to make about the unimportant, the more capacity you have for the critical.
We talk a lot about ideas, strategy, and innovation — but the truth is none of those matter if you're not putting in the reps. Not with intensity but with consistency. Author Todd Henry calls this “creating on demand.” And for creative professionals, product builders, and business leaders alike — it’s the skill that separates those who dabble from those who ship.
In today’s noisy world, there’s a premium on sustainable, focused output. Not hustle. Not fake productivity. But real, deliberate creation. The kind of work you can look back on a decade later and say, “That mattered.” And the only way to produce that kind of work — day after day, quarter after quarter — is to build a system that protects the work itself.
That’s why I’ve become obsessed with routines. Not out of discipline, necessarily — but out of respect for the craft. When I began working remotely full-time, I realized how quickly a lack of structure could erode focus. I started getting dressed for work each morning — even without an office to go to — because I needed that signal to shift my mind into gear. That simple habit helped me reclaim control of my day. And I’ve seen the opposite play out too many times: smart founders burning out, startups stalling, not because the ideas weren’t good or the strategy wasn’t solid — but because the leaders didn’t take their own energy, clarity, or focus seriously enough. They built everything but the habits that would let them endure. They created momentum for their business and forgot to build it for themselves.
This week, we’re sitting down with someone who’s built an entire career helping people navigate exactly this — Eggs! The Podcast guest and bestselling author, Todd Henry. He’s the author of multiple books (including The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, and Herding Tigers), and his frameworks have stood the test of time because they’re not just about creativity — they’re about resilience. About output. About what it really takes to keep showing up.
Building Momentum That Doesn’t Burn Out — Meet Todd Henry
Todd Henry is a bestselling author, speaker, and advisor known for helping creative professionals and leaders produce their best work — without sacrificing their health or sanity. He’s written six books, including The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, and Herding Tigers, and his podcast has racked up over 10 million downloads.
But this isn’t just a conversation about creativity. It’s about structure. About rhythm. About building the kind of habits that let you keep going when the initial spark is gone — and the real work begins.
Todd’s approach to output is surgical and sustainable. He doesn’t glorify hustle. He values repeatability. His systems for daily focus, deep work, and long-term energy management are more relevant than ever — especially for founders trying to build something meaningful without losing themselves in the process.
Routine, Rhythm, and Relentless Output
“I only write 500 words a day, maximum. I don’t write any more than that.”
The insight: Create constraints that fuel consistency. You don’t need more hours in the day — you need a rule that keeps you showing up. Limits force momentum. For Todd, 500 words a day became five bestselling books.
“You don’t write a book. You write a word, you write a sentence, you write a section.”
The insight: Break big visions into small, shippable pieces. Your startup, your product, your strategy — none of it gets built in one heroic push. Focus on the next concrete move. Build. Ship. Repeat.
“The way you treat each day is the way you treat your life.”
The insight: Audit your daily habits — they are your business plan. Want to be a founder who creates margin, value, and culture? It starts with your calendar. What you repeatedly do is who you become.
“With experience comes precision. The best thing we can do as creatives is be precise in how we work.”
The insight: Clarity compounds. As you grow, vague goals and scattered focus become liabilities. Precision in inputs creates excellence in outputs. Make your workflow as sharp as your vision.
“Rituals give us rhythm. And rhythm keeps us grounded in our humanness.”
The insight: Protect your energy with non-negotiable rituals. Especially for founders in always-on mode, daily rhythms are armor. They don’t slow you down — they keep you from burning out.
“You’ll find the seeds of your next book in the one you’re writing now.”
The insight: Mine your current work for what comes next. Don’t over-rotate on what’s “new.” If you’re paying attention, your next innovation is already taking shape inside today’s process.
“Go pick a company and work there for 10 years… at the end of that, you’ll have options.”
The insight: Play the long game. Quick wins are tempting. But staying power builds leverage. Focus on stacking trust, reps, and relationships — even when the world says, “move fast.”
You Don’t Need More Ideas — You Need More Reps
Most founders don’t lack ambition. They lack rhythm. They stack goals and grind out progress, but they rarely stop to ask if their systems can sustain the weight of their vision. Todd Henry reminds us that success isn’t a sprint — it’s a marathon you train for. One that you show up for daily, not just when you feel inspired.
If there’s a takeaway here, it’s this: protect your focus like it’s capital, build rituals like they’re infrastructure, and measure success in consistency, not spikes. The most durable outcomes come from the most repeatable actions. And the leaders who last aren’t the ones who sprint the fastest — they’re the ones who don’t stop showing up.
Thanks for reading,
—Ryan
Ready for more?
Catch Todd Henry’s interview in its entirety on Eggs! The Podcast.
Don’t miss a show! Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or really anywhere great podcasts are found.
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Reading list
If you're looking to dive deeper into the ideas discussed in this piece, here are some recommended books and resources that align with Kyle McDowell's principles:
The Accidental Creative by Todd Henry: The book that started it all. A blueprint for building systems that support creative output under pressure — without burning out in the process.
Die Empty by Todd Henry: A call to arms for makers, leaders, and creatives to leave nothing essential inside them. It’s not about hustle — it’s about intentional contribution.
Louder Than Words by Todd Henry: A sharp take on finding your authentic voice and using it to create work that resonates. Especially valuable for founders building brands and products.
Herding Tigers by Todd Henry: If you lead a team of creatives, this is your playbook. It’s about trust, autonomy, and managing high-performing people without smothering them.
Daily Rituals by Mason Currey: A fascinating look into the routines of iconic creatives — from Beethoven to Murakami. Reinforces the theme: output is built on rhythm.
Atomic Habits by James Clear: Not mentioned, but highly relevant. A foundational guide for building small, sustainable habits that compound into meaningful results.
Searchlight (Todd’s newsletter): A steady stream of insight and inspiration for people who create for a living. Smart, actionable, and always well-timed.
More to explore
Todd Henry
https://www.toddhenry.com
https://www.instagram.com/toddhenry
https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddhenry1
https://x.com/toddhenry
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R2 - Creative Services for Agencies and SMBs: https://www.r2mg.com
Eggs! The Podcast: https://www.eggscast.com
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