Being an entrepreneur comes down, in a business sense, to one thing: the ability to maximize leverage.
When you have leverage, you can accomplish much more, in less time, more effectively, and usually create something better. Leverage comes in many forms, such as:
- People
- Media assets
- Tech assets
- Software tools
- Processes and systems
- and more
In today’s business environment, you don’t have to go crazy! There are more options than ever, but that doesn’t mean you use them all or treat them all equally. It means there’s probably a path that works for you.
The biggest dividends in my business have been paid when I take advantage of leverage.
When I create an asset that outlasts me, hire a person to do something that was taking a bunch of my time, or implement a new system that will raise the chances of keeping our clients happy.
Yes, this is good for business.
But this is also good for your mental health.
An example:
I write to you feeling a little burned out today. Hope it’s okay to be honest.
I have a long todo list, but I’m strongly considering scrapping it all and taking a break. I know, we’re only on the 4th day of the year! Crazy, right?
Perhaps.
But I have learned that sometimes you have to listen to your body and brain. The reality is, I am in a privileged position where, even though it would set me back a little, I could do this.
That privileged position, though, is not a function of luck. It’s not a “must be nice” kind of thing.
I paid in time and mental resources to cultivate the leverage necessary to make that scenario possible, and I continually pay with financial resources to make it possible.
This leverage helps me run a peaceful business “out there” even when things get a little crazy “in here.” By implementing and documenting the processes, by purchasing the necessary tools, and by working with great people, I’ve created leverage that allows my business to run without me.
Now — I don’t have it all perfect.
There are plenty of areas in my business where I’ve not yet maximized leverage and still require a lot of hands-on from me. But because of the leverage we do have, the slow-down brought on by those things is far less consequential.
Leverage allows things to keep moving. It keeps business peaceful. It keeps life peaceful.
So I want you to think hard about this: How can you build a peaceful business in 2024?