It’s safe to assume you’ve got a similar goal to mine:
That’s freedom, baby. To be able to do what you want when you want where you want how you want. And money allows you do that.
So how do you work less and earn more? Sounds like you have to sacrifice your sanity or sense of purpose or something, right?
Nah. It’s simple really. Here’s how:
But first, quit your damn job
Apart from working for other people’s goals, handicapping your income and not managing your own schedule (don’t get me started), a 9-5 is great… 😐
You’re trading your most precious resource – time – for money. In other words, you get paid the same amount – no matter how much effort you put in, no matter how much money you make your company.
That suuucks.
I broke free from that arrangement in 2021: I quit my job and started my own company. Then I grew that company to $10k/month in recurring revenue in just its second month.
Now I’ve crossed the $250k revenue mark and credit the 5-point system below for a lot of my success.
But I’m not going to lie to you: Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. In fact, I’d argue only about 5-10% can make it work.
Some people are just accustomed to following orders, not creating them out of thin air.
But you? No.
You’re different, my friend. You’re meant to do big things. And I promise you – You cannot do big things while wearing a straightjacket sitting in a cubicle in the 8th floor of a gray, concrete, 90s-style building staring at flickering LED bulbs every day.
That just sounds like a miserable existence. Doesn’t it?
So quit your damn job. Start your own company. Monetize your knowledge.
But know this:
- If you can’t stay disciplined…
- If you can’t manage your own schedule…
- If you can’t take responsibility for your own life…
Then you have no shot of succeeding. Sorry, but it’s true.
So this is how you go from that 🙄 to getting an ungodly amount of work done in far less time than the normies.
Trust me – These 5 tips are like steroids for your brain.
1. Prioritization
Figure out what stuff is most important in your day. Because the most productive humans can only get about 3 major things done in a day and a few secondary tasks.
Don’t create a giant list of to do’s. Instead prioritize.
- What’s most important? What needs to get done today?
- What’s less important? What would be a nice-to-have-done but doesn’t isn’t vital.
(I use my daily planner to do this.)
This way, I know exactly what I need to focus on and don’t get distracted by less important tasks.
2. Batching & deep work
Group similar tasks and do them all in one sitting. The less you have to switch between stuff, the more you get done.
Also, early on in your entrepreneurial journey, you’ll learn when you’re most productive. Save menial tasks (like data processing, invoicing and emails) for less creative hours. And block your prime focus time for your most important tasks of the day.
This is what my daily schedule looks like (yes, I use Apple’s native calendar. Don’t make fun of me) …
Because I’ve discovered that I’m at peak creativity in the late morning, I write – my most important, intensive task of the day – at that time.
Then in the early morning and late afternoon, I get admin stuff done. You know, the menial stuff.
In the late morning and early afternoon, I deep work. I focus intensely on a single task without distractions. No phone, email or Twitter.
3. Mid-day workouts
Working out in the middle of the day also refreshes me for the afternoon. Otherwise, I get tired of working for too long.
Exercise isn’t only good for your body, but it’s fantastic for your brain.
- It’s a change of pace and environment
- It gets you away from your phone or computer
- It allows you to refresh your thinking and recharge your batteries
Endorphins are natural mood boosters. And you release a whole ton of ‘em when you exercise. Helping you stay focused and motivated all day.
See? Mid-day workouts aren’t just my intuition.
4. Fasting
Fasting is a historical science practiced by philosophers and scientists. Abstain from food after dinner until the following lunch. It’s simple.
While it sounds extreme (my girlfriend and mom don’t like that I fast), fasting …
- improves your focus and mental clarity
- increases cortisol at peak work hours
- reduces inflammation and bloating
- increases your productivity
- promotes muscle growth
Just listen to Huberman explain fasting.
I practice intermittent fasting, where I eat all my meals within 12pm – 8pm and fast until the following lunch.
It’s a great way to stay energized and focused throughout the morning and afternoon, when I need to be on my A game.
5. Walks
The oldest trick in the book. I walk every morning and afternoon for more than 30 minutes.
Another tip: Get lost.
No, not literally. Come back. I meant, get lost on your walks around the neighborhood. There’s something magical that happens in your brain (I don’t have the science to back this one up) when you explore an area for the first time.
New sights. New smells. New people.
If you sit at a desk all day, it’s easy to get tired and lose focus. But taking a break and going for a walk can help you recharge and come back to work with a fresh perspective – just like going to the gym mid-day.
Finding what works for you
When you start your own company, you’ll have to sacrifice a few things in order to succeed. But you first have to decide why you’re doing this.
- To have more time to travel the world?
- To buy a house and finally start your own life?
- To make as much as possible as soon as possible and retire your parents?
I’m not going to pretend I know your answer.
But mine? I wanted to be free. I didn’t want to work for anyone else anymore. I didn’t want a salary cap. Instead, I wanted to determine my own destiny.
But it required prioritizing some things over others. So I focused on building habits and a schedule that worked for me. And I threw out the stuff that didn’t get me where I wanted to go.
All this to say, these tips have worked wonders for me. But they may not work for you.
Test things out. Experiment. Find what works for you and double down on that.
And use my daily planner template to help you prioritize your tasks and stay on track.
Productivity shouldn’t be a chore. It’s fun to figure out what works for you and your body.
And my business thanks me 🤑