Kevin Hart: The Power of Discipline, Curiosity, and Refusing to Stay in One Lane
Every now and then, you come across someone whose energy feels almost impossible to ignore. For me, Kevin Hart is one of those people. Yes, he’s funny. Yes, he’s successful. But what fascinates me most about him is how he became the Kevin Hart we know today.
Kevin was recently in The Diary of a CEO sharing his experience as a business man and entertainer. I love those types of conversations. It's motivating to hear a celebrity pull back the curtain and talk about humility, discipline, curiosity, and the long grind behind the scenes that got him to where he is today. It makes you rethink your own approach to life.
When you watch Kevin on stage, it feels effortless. He moves fast, talks fast, thinks fast, and pulls you along for the ride. I saw him once live and his persona fills the room. He makes it look easy but we all know it's not. So much more than jokes go into these performances. What you don’t see is the insane amount of discipline behind that performance. Kevin treats stand-up like a craft, not a gig.
That level of discipline is rare. And it’s probably why his career didn’t stop at comedy. It expanded into acting, producing, writing, investing, fitness partnerships, consumer products, tech ventures! Kevin Hart doesn’t wait for someone to hand him opportunities. He builds them and brings everyone with him.
One of my favorite moments from his talk with Steven is when Steven asked how Kevin learned to navigate the business world. He said he asks questions and is not afraid to be the less smart one in the room. There was something incredibly human about that. We often think people at his level are experts so they don’t need to ask anything. Kevin flips that idea on its head. He studies the people in the room. He asks how things work, why they work, where the gaps are, and how he can improve.
His curiosity isn’t passive—it’s active. It’s what pushed him to launch Hartbeat, his media company. It’s what led him to partnerships in wellness and fitness. It’s why he invests in emerging brands and explores industries most entertainers never even think about. Curiosity is Kevin’s quiet superpower. It’s not loud like his comedy, but it’s just as impactful.
Another theme he kept coming back to is discipline. And it not in the cliché “wake up early and grind” kind. Kevin talks about discipline as a mindset. A culture you build around yourself. His mom taught him that once he starts something he needs to finish it. Most people show discipline when it’s convenient or when there’s applause involved. Kevin treats discipline like oxygen. It’s a non-negotiable. It can even take 13 years to make it big but he’s driven to make it happen.
Kevin Hart’s story isn’t about luck, or just talent…
It’s about:
Outworking your excuses
Staying curious even when you think you know enough
Refusing to stay in one lane
Surrounding yourself with people who make you better
Treating discipline as your foundation, not an occasional habit
Believing that your work ethic can create your opportunities
Listening to him talk with Steven Bartlett reminded me that success doesn’t have to look linear. You don’t have to fit into the box you started in. And your life can evolve in ways you never imagined. If you’re willing to stay hungry, humble, curious, and disciplined you will go a long way.
Kevin is an example of what happens when you take control of your own growth and stop letting the world decide who you’re supposed to be. And honestly, I think that’s a message we all need sometimes. So get to it!