High Leverage vs. Low Leverage Work

We all know the feeling of being busy all day and exhausted by 6 p.m., only to realize we accomplished nothing that actually moved the business forward.

I see this constantly with owners doing $1M to $50M in revenue. They are putting out fires. They are answering the same questions for the fifth time. They are doing low leverage work because it feels urgent and familiar.

High leverage work is invisible. Nobody is screaming at you to build a hiring system or document a core process. But one hour spent writing a process can save you a hundred hours of answering questions down the line.

Before you start your next task today, ask yourself: would I pay someone my hourly rate to do this? If the answer is no, it does not belong on your plate.

Schedule the high leverage work first. Let the busywork fight over whatever time is left.

Two men in suits reviewing a document in an office setting, with a woman and another man working in the background. The TAB (The Alternative Board) logo is in the top right, and the SN (Speaking Nerd) logo is in the bottom right.

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From "The Owner's Almanac" - 90 days to build a business that runs without you. Available on Amazon.