06/02/2026
In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I break down the old line, “Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.” At first, it sounds like a simple saying. The more I think about it, the more I see a full formula for building a business, growing a career, or turning a side hustle into something real.
Early to bed is not just about sleep. It is about control. Most people are not doing their best work at midnight. They are scrolling, snacking, watching shows, drinking, or wasting time. Getting to bed earlier helps cut off the part of the day where bad habits take over.
Early to rise gives you leverage. Those morning hours are quiet. You can read, plan, exercise, check your calendar, or work on something before the rest of the world starts pulling at you. For someone building a business on the side, that time can matter.
Work like hell means accepting that there is no way around the work. Passive income is mostly a fantasy. The work changes over time, and it can become higher leverage, but it never goes away. You have to do the work, build systems, train people, and keep moving.
Then you have to advertise. Good work does not speak for itself if nobody knows it exists. People are busy with their own lives. You have to explain the problem you solve and remind people you can solve it. That is true in business, in a career, and in any kind of growth.
For me, that line still holds up. Be disciplined. Get ahead. Do the work. Then make sure people know what you do.
