As a high-performing entrepreneur or executive, you’re likely juggling numerous responsibilities each day. But what if doing more isn’t the solution to scaling your business? Instead of simply adding tasks, try removing the ones that no longer serve you.
Let’s explore three powerful upgrades that can help you operate your business like a true executive, freeing up time for strategic growth and personal well-being.
1. Hire an Executive Assistant or Operations Manager
If you’re still managing all aspects of your business yourself, it’s time to delegate. An Executive Assistant (EA) or Operations Manager (OM) can free up at least 10 hours a week, allowing you to focus on high-impact decisions and growth strategies. Not only do they help streamline your operations, but they also act as a gatekeeper to your time, which is priceless.
Here’s how to maximize success with an EA or OM:
- Track your time: Record everything you do for two weeks. Grade tasks based on energy and impact.
- Delegate: Use your time audit to identify low-impact tasks to pass off.
- Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Make it easy for them to take over your responsibilities.
The goal? To give you back more time for visionary work.
2. Remove Yourself from Daily Operations
As an entrepreneur, your company needs to operate even if you take time off. This requires creating the right systems and structure that don’t depend on your constant involvement. If you’re still doing everything—from sales and marketing to fulfillment—your business is too dependent on you. Decentralizing key functions, like marketing and operations, will allow your company to grow without being tethered to your daily actions.
- Build systems that scale: Identify tasks that only you should handle—strategy, vision, and long-term planning.
- Decentralize responsibilities: Make sure other team members can step in and lead various functions.
Ask yourself: If you took two weeks off tomorrow, could your business still thrive? If not, it’s time to adjust.
3. Master the Art of Subtraction
Sometimes the mentality of “Do more, hustle harder, wake up even earlier” is toxic and doesn’t move your bottom line. Entrepreneurs tend to think that doing more equals growth, but often, doing less leads to exponential progress. It’s about strategic subtraction. Eliminate tasks that drain your energy and prevent you from focusing on what truly matters.
By removing unnecessary tasks, you can free up space for creativity, innovation, and long-term vision. This mindset shift is key to building a business that doesn’t require constant hustle.
There’s a funny pattern that happens with entrepreneurs after they reclaim their time: they get uncomfortable and reinsert themselves back into the operations.
Instead, embrace the discomfort of stepping back, and trust that doing less will unlock more opportunities for your business to thrive.
This lesson comes from Neal Samudre, Executive Coach, EC Advisor, and Founder of Entrecare. Enjoyed the content? Explore our upcoming workshops on the events page, and don’t miss our Lunch N’ Learns held every second Thursday of the month!
Ready to remove the performance blockers holding you back from exponential growth? Check out our blog on the 8 Performance Blockers and learn how to break through your limits.
