What’s up, guys? Damian Jay here. This is The Morning Drive. Today, I’m going to share some hard truths, unfiltered and unedited, because sometimes people just need tough love. So let’s get right into it: some of you motherfuckers aren’t built for it. That’s right. Some of you just aren’t fucking built for the grind, and I’m here to explain why.

The Reality of Building Something from Scratch

Since May, I’ve been on a journey to build my brand consistently. I’ve been putting out content daily: Bourbon Heritage Month, daily posts, the bourbon advent calendar, and even a tequila advent calendar. It’s January now, and I haven’t let up.

I was talking to some friends recently, and they asked me how I deal with people who talk shit online. Here’s the answer: I either make content about them (because it’s easy to clap back at butt-hurt clowns who hide behind fake profiles), or I ignore them. Why? Because I’m doing what they can’t. They’re not built for what I do.

The Haters and Their Excuses

Let me tell you a story. Back when I lived in a smaller town, it was easy to catch the people making fake accounts to troll me. Now, in a bigger city, I see even more people stalking me, especially on TikTok. TikTok lets you see who’s viewing your profile, and I often find these same people who once started a bourbon channel, tried posting for a few weeks, didn’t see results, and then quit.

Here’s the truth: nothing fucking takes off in a couple of weeks. If you don’t have a gimmick, all you’ve got left is hard work. That’s it. There’s no shortcut. People think they can hedge their bets on one viral video. Guess what? It doesn’t work like that.

Stop Making Excuses

People like to say, “I don’t have time to do what you do.” That’s bullshit. I have a full-time job. My wife and I are going through IVF, trying to have a baby. It’s the holiday season, so there’s traffic, gifts to buy, and all the chaos that comes with it. Yet, I still show up. I still create. I don’t hang out on people’s pages, shitting on them or making excuses for why I can’t succeed.

TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts are all single-serving platforms. People who are sad about their own lives use them as outlets to talk shit. They point out the one thing they think is wrong, like the guy who told me to “buy better curtains” without realizing it was a green screen. That’s the level of stupidity I deal with.

Routines Are the Key

Let me explain how successful people manage their time. They build routines. They wake up early. They fit in workouts before work. They prioritize what matters. The average person doesn’t get this because they’re too busy making excuses. They think they’re special, but here’s the kicker: You’re not fucking special. Nobody is.

The only thing that will make you remotely successful is hard work. That’s it.

The Role of Injury and Resilience

Over the last two years, I’ve torn my pec and my MCL. Both injuries set me back. Six months ago is when I tore my MCL, and only now am I getting back to where I was before. But you know what? I kept showing up. I trained around the injuries. I didn’t let them stop me.

Injuries humble you. They force you to slow down, clean up your weaknesses, and stop lifting with your ego. These experiences made me stronger, not just physically but mentally. Most people would have used those injuries as excuses to quit. Not me. I kept going.

Hard Work Beats Talent

There’s a saying: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. You can have better talent than me. You can lift more than me. But if you don’t keep it up, I’ll beat you every time with hard work. That’s what separates people like me from the rest.

I’ve seen people cheat to get to the top—buying followers or using steroids. I can’t afford to tarnish my reputation with fake followers or hurt my body with steroids, especially when I’m trying to have a kid. Everything I’ve achieved has been through grit, grinding, and showing up every day.

Success Takes Time

A notable person in the bourbon community followed me in November, and suddenly, my posts started getting 100-200 likes consistently. It felt surreal, and I questioned it. But I realized it wasn’t luck—it was the result of all the hard work I’ve put in. Even so, I’m not satisfied. I go through my followers weekly, deleting fake accounts flagged by Instagram. Why? Because I care about authenticity.

You’re Not Built for This (Yet)

Most of you aren’t built for this. You’re not built for the criticism, the hard work, or the grind. That’s why you won’t succeed. But here’s the good news: You CAN change that. Stop playing the victim. Stop being a clown. Prove yourself. Show up. Put in the work.

Final Thoughts

I know this rant won’t resonate with everyone, and that’s okay. But if you take one thing away from this, let it be this: hard work is the only thing that matters. Success doesn’t come from excuses, shortcuts, or gimmicks. It comes from waking up every day and doing the fucking work. That’s it.

Now, go prove me wrong.