Winning Back Your Time

If you haven't read the book "Buy Back Your Time" by Dan Martell yet, I recommend you finish reading this article and then run, don't walk, to get the book. That book is a game changer in understanding the value of your time and how to buy it back, systematically. Who to hire first and then next, depending on your biggest challenges and so much more. He was the one that I first heard the concept of hiring to take tasks off your plate as opposed to hiring to increase capacity. His concepts are clear and next level.

Selling his book to you is not what I'm here to discuss today, however, it is a great resource to support the ideas. As a leader or business owners, until we know better, we all catch ourselves doing tasks that are far below our pay scale at some point. We think it's easier for us to do it, or "it will just be quick", or some other rationalization that keeps us from being free of the daily grind. This mindset is also what limits us from maximizing our potential.

Last week, we talked about how to scale your construction business without chaos. (Missed it? Read it here.)

However, even with the right team and systems in place, your time is still your most valuable asset and when not treated as such, we are compromising our success.

Most construction owners are stuck in the weeds, running from job site to job site, putting out fires, answering calls all day.

If that’s you, here’s the reality, your business won’t scale if you’re still operating like an employee.

You need to stop working in the business and start working on the business.

Where Is Your Time Going?

Ask yourself:

❌ Are you spending time on $20/hr tasks (scheduling, admin, job site visits)?

❌ Are you the go-to for every decision and problem?

❌ Are you constantly reacting instead of planning ahead?

If so, your time is being used to run the business, instead of being used to lead the business.

You want to know what you're actually doing in a run of a day? Do a time audit. Yes, audit your time in 15 minute increments for a week. It may take a couple of starts to get through it, I know it's tedious. However, the value of this exercise is enormous. 

It will expose your truth:

• Where are you doing work others should be doing?

• Where are you sacrificing what matters for what’s most convenient?

Taking the harder path now, investing in systems, delegating, building a leadership team, will pay you back tenfold in the future. (No, that’s not a statistically proven number, however, you get the point.)

Focus on High-Impact Work, the 80/20 Rule

Great leaders spend 80% of their time on things that drive business growth. In a well run company, CEO's focus on:

✔️ Strategy & business development – Planning for long-term success. 

✔️ Building & leading a strong team – Hiring, training, and holding people accountable. 

✔️ High-level financial oversight – Making sure your business is profitable and cash flow is strong.

That's it. Everything else? Delegate it. Sound impossible, like a dream? It doesn't have to be.

Shift from Tasks to Strategy

If you’re not spending time thinking about the future, your business will always be stuck in the present.

Block out just 1–2 hours a week, no job sites, no emails, no phone calls and ask yourself:

• What’s holding us back right now?

• What opportunities are we missing?

• What do I need to stop doing so I can lead more effectively?

That’s the real work of a CEO. It helps you get clear on what you need to do to not be in the same place six months or a year from now. 

Why Working Less Might Be the Smartest Move You Can Make

Here’s the paradox: The less you’re involved in the day-to-day, the better your business performs. Put the systems in place and step back to let the system run. 

When you step back:

• Your team steps up

• Your systems get tested (and improved)

• You regain time, clarity, and control

Working less isn’t lazy, it’s leadership.

What’s Next? Building a Team That Actually Stays

Next week, I’ll show you how to attract and keep the best people, so you’re not constantly hiring and training new workers.