The Paradox of Doing Less

Hey founders,

First off, happy new year! 🥂 

As we start off this new year, let’s consider a question:

How much of your time is spent on the things that move the needle?

If you’re like most entrepreneurs, the answer is probably: not enough.

Your days are filled with tasks—meetings, emails, putting out fires, managing team issues—that keep you busy but don’t actually matter.

And here’s the hard truth: doing more isn’t the solution.

The secret to doing more? DO LESS.

When you do less, your teams and systems start to do more. Take yourself out of much of the day to day in order to build a real company that scales.

Let’s talk about how you can make 2025 the year you do less… and get more done. 

Stop Doing It All

In Dan Martell’s Buy Back Your Time, he talks about the power of delegation. Most founders think hiring is about growing the business. It’s not—it’s about buying back your time.

Here’s how to start:

• Audit: List every task you do in a week. Highlight the ones that drain your energy or don’t directly grow your business.

• Transfer: Delegate those tasks to a team member or hire external help.

• Fill: Use your newfound time to focus on high-value, revenue-generating activities.

Remember: 80% done by someone else is 100% awesome. 

The 80/20 Rule

Not all tasks are created equal. In fact, 20% of your efforts drive 80% of your results. The challenge is identifying and doubling down on high-impact activities.

Here’s a quick framework:

• Delegation: Tasks that drain you and make little money. Get rid of these.

• Replacement: Tasks that make money but don’t energize you. Hand them off.

• Production: Tasks that make big money and light you up. Spend most of your time here.

Ask yourself: What’s the ONE thing I can do today that will have the biggest impact on my business? Then do THAT!

Build Systems

Your business can’t grow if you’re the bottleneck. Systems allow your team to operate efficiently without constant oversight. 

Remember Dan Martell’s 4 C’s of Playbooks:

• Camcorder: Record yourself doing a task to create a training video.

• Course: Break the task into digestible steps.

• Cadence: Define how often the task needs to be done.

• Checklist: Create a high-level checklist to ensure consistency.

By systemizing your operations, you’ll empower your team and free up your time for strategic leadership.

Protect Your Time

One of the most powerful strategies for 2025 is planning your year in advance. Dan calls it the Preloaded Year, and it’s a game-changer.

Here’s how to do it:

• Define Your Big Rocks: Identify the non-negotiable personal and business milestones for the year (vacations, product launches, etc.).

• Work Backwards: Set checkpoints to ensure you’re on track.

• Score Your Tactics: Prioritize tasks using the ICE framework (Impact, Confidence, Ease).

When you plan proactively, you’ll spend less time reacting and more time leading.

This Question Changes Everything

Instead of asking, “How can I do this?” start asking, “Who can do this better than me?”

It’s not about doing everything yourself; it’s about building a team of superstars who can execute better than you ever could.

Your 2025 Action Plan

Here are three things you can do this week to set yourself up for success in the new year:

1. Perform an Energy Audit: Write down every task you do in a week. Identify the ones you need to delegate.

2. Block Time for High-Impact Work: Reserve 2-3 hours a day for strategic activities that grow your business.

3. Build Your First Playbook: Choose a recurring task and create a simple process for your team to follow.

Remember: Doing less isn’t about being lazy. 

It's the way to scale your business. 

Focus on the things you are good at, and that you like doing, and begin to build a company around everything else. 

If you can do this, that is where real scalability begins. 

Be intentional. Focus on what truly matters. Let go of the rest. 

Hope you’re having a great start to 2025! ✌️

—The Tribe Team