The Anti-Guru Sprint: Why Real Builders Just Get It Done!

Jun 9

7 min read

Let’s be honest: The world is drowning in gurus.

Every second ad is some guy in a linen shirt, “living his best life,” flogging a shortcut to six-figures, shredded abs, inner peace or the next crypto moonshot.

And here’s the problem—they’re selling dependence, not capability.

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The Guru Economy Is a Scam (And It’s Getting Worse)

The “guru” machine is booming:

Courses for $4,000 that promise “passive income.”
Coaches with no runs on the board teaching you “brand building.”
Influencers who rent a Lambo for a day and call it proof of concept.

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge. - Stephen Hawking

This is nothing new.

Humans have always looked for leaders—chiefs, kings, the loudest voice in the room.

But in 2025, the guru economy is industrialised.

If you’re stressed, anxious, or just overwhelmed by too many choices, you’re the product.

And if you believe success comes from “outside forces”—that’s a trap psychologists call external locus of control.

Here’s the truth:

If you need a guru to get moving, you are already losing.

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The Psychology: Why We Fall for Gurus

This is hardwired into us:

Tribal loyalty: We look for someone to follow.

Social proof: We think, “If everyone else is paying this guy, he must be right.”

Cognitive laziness: It’s just easier to pay for a “hack” than to do the hard work.

Gurus exploit it.

They promise:

Quick results.
Easy blueprints.
Hype, dressed up as certainty.

But real business?

Real life?

It doesn’t work that way.

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Real Operators Build—They Don’t Wait

The real winners—the people actually growing businesses, families, wealth, and health—know what matters:

Interdependence beats dependence.
Systems beat speeches.
Grit beats hype.

They don’t bow to one guru.

They build networks, call on mentors, compete with colleagues, lean on friends who make them sharper.

They don’t need motivation.

They need habits, frameworks, and people who keep them honest.

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What I Actually Believe

I’m not here to hype you up.

I’m not a guru and I’m not interested in playing one.

I’m here to show you:

The real work is usually boring.
The results come from compounding.
You need to learn from many, but worship none.

You want to change?

Stop searching for a hero.

Start building a process.

“Fall in love with the process and the results will come.” - Eric Thomas

That’s the whole point of the 90-Day Anti-Guru Sprint:

No fluff.
No waiting.
Just work.

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Three Cities, One Lesson: Execution Beats Excuses

Three US Business Examples: Adapt, Specialise, Outlast

Over the last few weeks I’ve been in NYC, Washington and Miami. I met operators who build—not pose.

Here’s what I learned, up close:

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Miami: Sunny’s—Adapting on the Run, Winning Against the Odds

You think Aussie businesses had it tough during COVID?

Try running a restaurant in Miami during peak CDC lockdown.

Sunny’s didn’t wait for permission. They adapted.

The city’s top chefs and hospo teams saw the writing on the wall: restrictions would gut every normal dining room in town.

While everyone else was “waiting for rules to change,” Sunny’s created a “Sunny’s Someday Steakhouse”, built outdoor kitchens, pop-up dining, even curbside seating, days before competitors even applied for permits.

They tore up their old menu, went all-in on what travelled well and what locals actually wanted—barbecue, share plates, cocktails by the jug.

They hustled to turn dinner into a nightly event. The buzz spread—not just a restaurant, but a scene.

The Result?

Sunny’s didn’t just survive. They turned COVID into a launchpad.

They ran profitable months while others shut doors.
Post-pandemic, their outdoor dining and “always-on” vibe is now a permanent edge and their pop-up location is now their home. This is Miami’s hottest restaurant right now.

“Don’t wait for permission. Create the space and let the market catch up.”

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New York City: TrainingLab—Community, Brand, and Category Domination

You want to see a gym that’s not playing small?

TrainingLab is three floors of pure energy in Midtown Manhattan—a literal destination for high performers.

Here’s what they did differently:

Specialisation: TrainingLab went all-in on CrossFit and Hyrox. No fluff classes, no “be everything for everyone.” They doubled down on what elite movers and weekend warriors wanted: structured programming, real results, and competition prep.

Community-Backed: They built an environment where you’re not just “a member”—you’re part of a tribe.

Hyrox athletes train side by side with CrossFitters and high-achievers.

Their leaderboard is public. Success gets celebrated, mediocrity gets challenged.

Integrated Funnel: Newcomers enter through trial classes, get hooked on results, then funnelled into group coaching, personal training, and finally, Hyrox and CrossFit events.

They sell branded merch, supplements, and recovery sessions—each floor is monetised.

Destination Gym: This isn’t just a place to sweat; it’s a badge of honour to train here. Out-of-towners put TrainingLab on their NYC itinerary. Top athletes drop in. Social media is full of tagged stories. It’s a magnet.

The Result?

They crushed the “big gym” competition by doing one thing better than anyone.
When trends shifted, they adjusted offerings but never lost their DNA.
Their community and brand are so sticky, they’ve become a launchpad for members’ own athletic careers.

“The future isn’t mass appeal, it’s niche dominance. Build a category, own it, turn your gym into a movement.”

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Washington D.C.: The Law Firm—Long Games and AI Survival

Think law firms are old school and safe? Not anymore.

There’s a boutique D.C. law firm quietly building for the world after LegalAI.

Relationship Banking: For a decade, they’ve doubled down on trust. No billboards, no gimmicks—just white-glove service to clients who value expertise.

Every client gets a direct line to a partner, not an associate.

Compound Reputation: They’ve published regular, practical legal insights for business owners—real, actionable, not lawyer-speak.

Their reputation isn’t just built on courtroom wins, but on decades of being the “first call” when things get tough.

Future-Proofing: Here’s where it gets interesting:

As AI-powered legal tools get better, many big firms are panicking—racing to cut costs, automate, lay off associates.

This firm?

They’re partnering with top LegalAI providers to offer clients hybrid solutions. Routine work is automated and affordable, but the high-value stuff—negotiation, strategy, litigation, creative problem-solving—remains high-touch and deeply human.

Fighting Commoditisation: They’re running exclusive workshops, teaching business leaders how to use AI wisely, not just cheaply.

They’re expanding their referral web, not just across D.C., but into startups and global markets. They’re becoming the trusted interpreter of a changing legal landscape.

The Result?

While many firms will get crushed by cheap AI, this firm’s built a moat on trust, adaptability, and relationship capital.
They’re positioned to thrive in a world where “just another lawyer” isn’t enough.

“AI will wipe out the mediocre. Relationships and deep trust will outlast any code.”

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What Do They Have in Common?

They didn’t wait for permission or “best practice.”
They adapted, specialised, and doubled down on their edge.
They invested in community, relationships, and a story that can’t be copied overnight.

That’s the new playbook—whether you’re in Miami, Manhattan, D.C., or Western Australia.

You want to outlast, out-earn, and outbuild the next wave?

Move fast. Specialise. Build trust. Then adapt again.

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This Isn’t Just a Big City Thing

The exact same approach works in Albany, Denmark, and Perth.

Your competitor isn’t the café down the road, it’s Uber Eats, DoorDash (for the city crowd), and whatever’s trending on TikTok (for everyone).
Your retail store isn’t fighting for local traffic—it’s fighting for national attention.
Your gym isn’t just competing with others in WA, it’s up against global apps and trainers on Instagram.

What This Looks Like (WA Edition)

Albany retailer: Goes online, runs TikTok ads, builds a national audience—now 60% of revenue is from outside the region.

Denmark restaurant: Starts a local “cocktail mix subscription”—locked-in revenue, higher customer loyalty, national reach and a waiting list.

Perth real estate team: Ditches the “we always did it this way” attitude, launches a YouTube channel, and lands interstate investors.

Regional gym: Hybridises—does small-group PT, online challenges, community events, and sells branded “merch” online.

This is what moving without permission looks like.

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The 90-Day Anti-Guru Sprint—How It Actually Works

Forget webinars, social media posts, or “masterminds.”

This is the playbook:

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1. Pick One Mission

Stop with the to-do list.

Pick one clear, aggressive, measurable mission:

Boost revenue by 20% in 90 days.
Land 15 new clients.
Lock in 4 quality family events with your kids.
Do the Busselton Iron Man or a Hyrox somewhere in the world.

“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” - Bruce Lee

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2. Build Weekly Systems

Break your mission into weekly numbers.

15 deals in 90 days = 1.25 per week.
50 new clients = 5–6 per week.

Weekly targets drive daily actions.

Example:

A WA tradie wants 10 new clients.

He calls 8 people a day. Two weeks in, his pipeline is overflowing while the next guy is “thinking about running Facebook ads.”

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3. Inputs > Outcomes

You can’t always control outcomes, but you can:

Make calls.
Follow up.
Book appointments.
Send proposals.

“Do not be fooled by outcomes. Focus on inputs. Control the controllable.” - James Clear

Winners obsess over what they can do today.

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4. Build Interdependence (Not Dependence)

Find people who:

Call you on your excuses.
Share what’s working, not just what’s trending.
Make your systems better, not your ego bigger.

Example:

A Denmark café owner swaps sales numbers every Friday with two other owners in WA. They push each other, share what’s working, and move faster together.

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5. Respect the Plateau

Everyone gets bored. Most people quit.

Psychologists will tell you it happens around Day-40 and they call it the “Valley of Disillusionment.”