Discipline is Destiny. Especially in E-commerce
I just finished Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday, and man, it hit home.
The whole book is about how self-mastery is the foundation for success—not talent, not luck, not even smarts. It's about showing up every day, doing the work, and making decisions that align with your long-term goals, even when no one is watching.
That message is tailor-made for entrepreneurs. Especially those of us in the e-commerce space.
The Unsexy Truth About Online Business
Running an online business might seem glamorous from the outside—flexible hours, working from your laptop, that whole “laptop lifestyle” thing. But the truth is, it takes serious discipline to succeed.
Nobody’s there to make sure you launch that new product, tweak your ads, follow up with suppliers, or respond to your customers. It’s just you.
That’s where Holiday’s message rings loud and clear: discipline is your destiny.
1. Discipline Means Showing Up Every Day
Holiday writes about the importance of consistency—how greatness is often a product of steady effort over a long period.
In e-commerce, that could mean:
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Posting daily content even when engagement is low.
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Running email campaigns even when sales are slow.
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Testing ad copy 17 different ways until you find a winner.
You don’t just build a Shopify store and wait for sales. You grind. You show up every day with your lunch pail and go to work.
2. Discipline Means Saying “No” More Than “Yes”
There’s a part in the book where Holiday talks about restraint—how discipline isn’t always about doing more, but often about doing less, better.
This really applies to online businesses. It’s tempting to chase every shiny object:
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A new product line.
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A hot new platform.
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A trend you think you have to jump on.
But real growth usually comes from doubling down on what works, not constantly pivoting.
Discipline helps you stay focused.
3. Discipline is Sticking to the Process
You don’t control outcomes. You control inputs.
Holiday reminds us that we’re not owed results, just because we work hard. What we can control is how consistent we are with the process.
In your online business, that means:
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Writing the product descriptions that convert.
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Testing your website speed.
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Monitoring customer feedback.
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Honing your email flows.
You do the work—not for instant results, but because it’s the right thing to do. Over time, it adds up.
4. Discipline Builds Trust—With Yourself and Your Customers
Customers can feel when a brand is sloppy. Broken links, inconsistent branding, slow replies—that’s all a reflection of discipline.
When you run a tight ship, your customers notice. And even more importantly, you notice.
You start trusting yourself more. You know that when you set a goal, you’ll follow through. That’s power.
If you’re thinking about starting an online business—or you're in the trenches right now—know this:
Your future success won’t come from a perfect product or viral TikTok video. It’ll come from your ability to stay the course, do the hard stuff, and keep going when others quit.
That’s discipline.
And like Ryan Holiday says: Discipline is destiny.
So ask yourself: Are you showing up like your future depends on it? Because it does.
Let’s get to work.
—Anthony
Founder, Erobre
