_edited.jpg)
How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything: The Philosophy That Could Transform Your Life
- Startup Bell
- May 2
- 6 min read
Mark Cuban is known for a lot of things: billionaire entrepreneur, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, star investor on Shark Tank, and a self-made success story. But if you ask him the real secret behind his achievements, it's not some complicated business model or a stroke of good luck. It's something surprisingly simple—discipline in the small things.
“How you do anything is how you do everything.”
That one sentence captures Cuban’s philosophy. It's about how the little decisions you make every day—whether anyone notices or not—are shaping your future. It’s about your integrity when nobody’s watching, your attention to detail when it’s easy to slack off, and your willingness to do the extra rep when you could just quit early.
Let’s dive deeper into this powerful mindset, explore why it matters, and look at some famous examples that show just how game-changing this small but mighty idea really is.
The Power of the "Small Things"
At first glance, it might seem trivial.
Does it really matter if you wipe the counter when no one’s around?
Does it matter if you push through to complete a workout when nobody is grading you?
According to Mark Cuban, yes, it matters. Because every small action you take either reinforces a habit of excellence—or it erodes it.
"If I drop something in the kitchen, I'm not thinking somebody will clean up behind me. I literally, in my mind, I'm thinking you've got to pick that up because how you do anything is how you do everything."
This mindset trains your brain to associate yourself with accountability, effort, and pride in your work—no matter how big or small the task is.
It’s not about the dropped item; it’s about building the identity of someone who does things properly, consistently.
Example: Kobe Bryant’s Legendary Discipline
Few people lived the "how you do anything is how you do everything" philosophy more vividly than Kobe Bryant.
Kobe wasn’t just talented—he was obsessive about his preparation.
There’s a famous story where, before a Team USA practice session, trainer Tim Grover found Kobe already drenched in sweat—because he'd been there since 4 AM, shooting hundreds of shots alone.
It wasn’t a championship game.
It wasn’t a big stage.
It was just a random morning.
But to Kobe, it mattered.
That’s the essence of what Cuban is talking about: You either practice greatness at all times, or you don’t. You can’t flip the switch when the spotlight turns on—you have to be ready because you’ve always been ready.
Why Small Habits Shape Big Success
Humans are creatures of habit. Your daily actions, even the tiniest ones, aren’t isolated—they’re laying down tracks for the kind of person you become.
Skipping corners builds a habit of mediocrity.
Showing up fully builds a habit of excellence.
James Clear, in his bestselling book Atomic Habits, says:
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”
When you cut corners, even when it seems harmless, you’re casting a vote for becoming someone who cuts corners.
When you do the right thing, even when no one is watching, you're voting to become someone who consistently delivers excellence.
And those small votes? They add up over time into a reputation, a career, a life.
Example: Jeff Bezos and Amazon's "Day 1" Mentality
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, built the entire culture of the company around the idea of never becoming complacent.
At Amazon, it's always "Day 1"—meaning they act with the same urgency, attention to detail, and hunger that a brand-new startup would have.
Bezos once said:
“Day 2 is stasis. Followed by irrelevance. Followed by excruciating, painful decline. Followed by death.”
For Bezos, how you handled every project, every customer, every small detail mattered—because letting small standards slip would eventually corrode everything.
Amazon became a trillion-dollar company because, like Cuban says, how you do anything is how you do everything. Read the Power of "Day One" Mentality
Cutting Corners: The Silent Killer of Dreams
It’s tempting, especially when no one is looking, to tell yourself:
"It’s just this once."
"It’s not a big deal."
"Nobody will notice."
But that’s exactly how people lose their edge.
In business, in sports, in life—the person who lets things slide when it’s inconvenient slowly but surely falls behind.
Take Blackberry, once the king of smartphones.
At their peak, they controlled over 40% of the U.S. smartphone market.
But they got comfortable. They cut corners on innovation. They believed their business customers would stay loyal forever, even as Apple and Android surged ahead.
By the time they tried to catch up, it was too late.
Today, Blackberry is a footnote in tech history.
The lesson? If you lose discipline in the small moments, the big losses will follow.
The "10th Rep" Mentality
In his example, Cuban talks about working out:
“If you're working out, you can do that 10th rep or you can stop at eight.”
That 10th rep matters. Not because anyone’s watching. Not because it’ll change your life immediately.
But because it reinforces that you are the kind of person who finishes strong—even when you could quit.
It’s like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson says:
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success.”
The Rock didn’t become a global superstar overnight.
It was decades of showing up at the gym at 5 AM, even when no one cared.
Of grinding out those last reps.
Of living the "how you do anything is how you do everything" philosophy day in and day out.
Small Standards Build Big Brands
Brands are built the same way.
Take Apple under Steve Jobs.
Jobs obsessed over every tiny detail: the feel of the packaging, the way the icons looked, even the typography of the letters.
When he was designing the first Macintosh, he demanded that even the internal circuit boards—something 99% of users would never see—be beautiful and well organized.
“For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.” – Steve Jobs
It was insane attention to detail.
Most companies would’ve skipped those details to save money.
But that obsession with excellence became part of Apple’s DNA—and it's a huge reason why people line up around the block to buy their products today.
Example: Michael Jordan's Ruthless Standards
Another example?
Michael Jordan.
Jordan wasn’t just good because of raw talent.
He demanded excellence from himself—and from everyone around him.
There’s a legendary story where, during Bulls’ practices, Jordan would talk trash and push his teammates relentlessly.
He wasn’t trying to be mean—he was preparing them for the brutal competition of the NBA playoffs.
“I play to win, whether during practice or a real game.” – Michael Jordan
How you do anything is how you do everything.
If you’re casual in practice, you’ll be casual in the Finals.
If you’re ruthless in practice, you’ll be ruthless under pressure.
How to Apply Mark Cuban’s Principle in Your Life
Alright, so how can you live out this mindset every day?
Here’s a simple blueprint:
Start with your environment.
If you see a mess, clean it up immediately.
Treat your surroundings with care, because it builds the habit of respect and excellence.
Finish strong. If you commit to a task—whether it’s writing an email, studying, or doing a workout—go all the way. Do the 10th rep.
Act like someone is watching. Imagine that the version of yourself you want to become is watching—and make that future self proud.
Catch yourself cutting corners. The minute you rationalize laziness, stop yourself. Ask: Would the best version of me be okay with this?
Celebrate the little wins. Every time you go the extra mile, even in something small, recognize it. That’s you laying another brick in your foundation for greatness.
Conclusion: Excellence is Built When No One’s Watching
Mark Cuban’s advice is so powerful because it strips away the excuses.
You don’t need luck, special resources, or a lucky break to start building success.
You just need discipline in the small moments.
You need to treat every task—no matter how trivial—as a chance to strengthen your identity as someone who shows up, finishes strong, and cares about the details.
Because ultimately, how you do anything is how you do everything.
And if you do the little things right, the big things will take care of themselves.
Ready to live a life of purpose and impact? Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly insights, tips, and stories to help you make a difference and achieve your goals!
Watch Mark Cuban's advice:
Commentaires