The Power of Discipline and Consistency
Rick Rubin, a 63-year-old Grammy award-winning record producer, has built a legendary career in the music industry. Known for his work with Def Jam Recordings and American Recordings, he credits much of his success to discipline and showing up, even when he doesn’t feel like it.
“I’m a lazy workaholic,” Rubin said. “I have to force myself to do it. But I do force myself.” This statement highlights his unique approach to work, balancing a natural inclination towards laziness with an intense drive to complete tasks.
Rubin’s insights into the work ethic of great artists were shared on Sunday’s episode of the “David Senra” podcast. He reflected on how consistency has been key to his own success, emphasizing that he doesn’t like to quit and prefers to see things through from start to finish.
Despite his calm and zen-like public image, Rubin admits that he works extensively, often pushing himself even when he doesn’t feel like it. “My demeanor would be to do nothing,” he said, but his dedication to his craft keeps him going.
For Rubin, the motivation lies in reaching the final product, even if the process is challenging. “That’s the point. So, I love the beautiful thing, and it takes a lot of work to get to the beautiful thing,” he explained. Sharing the music he helped create with the world brings him a sense of fulfillment.
However, the journey to that moment isn’t always easy. “It’s such a beautiful day. Wouldn’t it be nice to just go out and have lunch with friends? But my whole life has been, you know, most of my life in the first 25 years was in a dark room for 16 hours a day, 7 days a week in New York City, working on music,” he recalled.
Rubin acknowledged that parts of the creative process can be boring, and there are times when he’d rather not be there. However, the most addictive part of making music is the “moment of revelation,” when a project suddenly transforms from “nothing to something really good,” especially after a long stretch of trial and error.
He also highlighted Eminem as an example of relentless discipline. Rubin previously described the rapper as the “most obsessive artist” he’s ever worked with. “It feels like his entire life is centered around writing words. He’s totally preoccupied with that. So, he always has a notebook. He’s always making little notes,” Rubin said.
Rubin shared a story about asking Eminem whether all the writing in his notebooks was for a new song. “He’s like, ‘No, I’m just like keeping active, keeping active in the skill set,'” Rubin recalled.
While some artists obsess over their craft, Rubin believes diligence and discipline are essential to greatness. “Work ethic is always a part of it, but for some people, work ethic is the reason they are who they are. And there are other people who are just incredibly talented and have enough work ethic to get over the finish line,” he said.
Rubin isn’t the only entrepreneur who has emphasized the importance of a strong work ethic. Selena Gomez, who founded Rare Beauty in 2019, shared that her grandpa taught her the importance of being early. “My papa used to say, ‘If you are on time, you’re already late.’ So that means I get to places 30 minutes before, or my team has had to trick me because I show up so early, but I like to be prepared, and to say hi and not be rushed,” she said.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also spoke about his drive, mentioning that he runs the company seven days a week. Part of what keeps him going is the fear of failure. “I have a greater drive from not wanting to fail than the drive of wanting to succeed,” Huang said, adding that he’s “always in a state of anxiety.”
These stories highlight the common thread among successful individuals: a commitment to hard work, discipline, and perseverance. Whether it’s in music, business, or any other field, these qualities often define those who achieve greatness.
