1.TALK TO ONE CUSTOMER

Theme: Executive Connectivity
Alternate days:

• Odd: Core customer

• Even: Emerging customer or edge use case - customers that are too small, too big, too cheap, etc. to use your product.

Use any method (interview, review analysis, sales call, support ticket, etc.) but extract real insight.

Outcome: Deeply understand the customer of today AND tomorrow.

2. BUILD YOUR TOOLKIT

Theme: Tools Not Rules
First 15 days: research and select a tool related to the challenge/s specific to your business.

• Software (e.g. Webflow, Retool, Airtable)

• Platform (e.g. TikTok, Substack, Youtube)

• Methodologies (e.g. JTBD, Lean Canvas, DACI)

• Strategic models (e.g. 7 Powers, Porter’s 5 Forces)

• Techniques (e.g. sales technique, team coaching technique, feedback technique)

Next 60 days: implement it
and refine it

Most people / businesses mess up tool implementation because they don’t go all in. They make an initial pass, dilute their efforts / application and when it doesn’t work they call it a failure. You’re going to spend your 75 Hard implementing this tool completely. 



Spend 30 minutes each day building this.

Outcome: Equip yourself for whatever may come.

3. DEVELOP A POV ABOUT WHERE THE WORLD IS GOING AND YOUR ROLE IN IT

Theme: Strategic Speculation
Alternate days per below.

• Odd: Research where the world is going (trends, tech, behavior, regulations)

• Even: Develop a hypothesis about how your business might evolve or capitalize on these changes.

Outcome: Build a dynamic business.

4. CHALLENGE YOUR THINKING

Theme: Varied Viewpoints
Every day, share challenge, decision, or idea you have about your business with someone who sees the world differently. Avoid trying to convince them of your viewpoint and spend time understanding why they think the way they do.

Be intentional. Rotate by age, background, discipline, education, worldview.

Outcome: Get a new perspective.

5. Consume 10 Pages (or 10 Minutes) of Something That Sharpens You

Theme: Practical Enrichment
Books, audiobooks, or podcasts that:

• Improve your operational thinking

• Expand your perspective

• Make you a better builder

No “how I scaled my startup to $40M ARR” clickbait. Choose substance.

Outcome: Level up.

6.Respect the Forbidden List

Theme: Active Abstinence
It’s easy to get distracted by shiny things when you should be focusing on your North Star.
These are off-limits. Every day. No exceptions:

a. Vanity Tracking

• Likes, followers, impressions—unless directly tied to a validated funnel.

b. Competitor Mimicry

• You are not them. No copying what you haven’t validated with your own customers.

c. Spaghetti Strategy

• “We’re just testing things” isn’t a strategy. No changes, or modifications to your product / website / anything without a hypothesis and a way to assess results.

d. Data-Free Tinkering

• No redesigns, repositioning, or process changes without a reason grounded in actual signals.

e. Piling On

• Don’t launch or build something new without finishing, validating, or killing what you already have.

Outcome: Protect focus. Build with intent.

PUBLIC LOGGING

You must post a short public log every single day on a platform of your choice:
X, LinkedIn, Threads, Substack Notes, Discord, private Slack—doesn’t matter.

Each log should include:

• A bullet for each of the 6 rules (1 sentence max per item)

• An honest note if you struggled, failed, or succeeded that day

This is your accountability mirror. Skipping it = challenge reset.