Doing What You Hate to Do

Let’s get real: at its core, doing what you hate but have to do … stinks. When you face a task where every fiber of your being wants to walk away, how should you handle it? Success is not about doing what feels good in the moment; it’s about doing what’s necessary. The “successful person” does the things “failures” refuse to do. They understand their success depends on completing the task.

Nobody wants to wake up at 5 a.m. to jog in freezing rain. Nobody enjoys having difficult conversations or wading through bureaucratic red tape. Life is full of responsibilities that don’t spark joy—but still demand action. Our willingness to confront and complete unpleasant duties is what separates winners from losers.

Years ago, Brian Tracy wrote a wonderful book entitled Eat That Frog, which explores this subject. I highly recommend it. Here are 5 impactful points from his book:

1. “If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.”

   Start your day by tackling the hardest, most dreaded task. This builds momentum and makes everything else easier.

   
   

2. “There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing.”

   Prioritize ruthlessly. Each morning, identify your top 1–3 tasks that will truly move the needle.

   
   

3. “The ability to concentrate single-mindedly on your most important task, to do it well and to finish it completely, is the key to great success.”

   Practice deep work. Block distractions and focus until the task is fully complete.

   
   

4. “One of the very worst uses of time is to do something very well that need not be done at all.”

   Don’t confuse busyness with productivity—question whether a task even deserves your time before diving in.

   
   

5. “The Key to Success is Action.”

   Stop waiting for the perfect time. Start now, even with imperfect steps. Action creates clarity and builds momentum.

   
   

Achieving success is often boring, hard, and uncomfortable. There’s no way to sugarcoat it—the hateful task must be done. Avoiding responsibilities only creates bigger problems later. Most people focus on the short-term discomfort of the task instead of the long-term rewards.

I choose to focus on how great I’ll feel when it’s done—how relieved, excited, and energized. Those thoughts fuel my drive to push through. The sooner it’s finished, the sooner I reap the benefits.

Focus on the outcome, not the effort. Ask yourself, “How will I feel once this is finished?” Great results are rarely convenient, but they are always worth it. The ability to consistently do what you don’t want to do is what separates average from exceptional. Keep your eyes on the reward. The work may be unpleasant, but the results will never be.