5 Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder in Your Business
Most founders aren’t lazy — they’re overloaded. Here’s how to reclaim your time and scale smarter.
– 3 min read
Ever felt like you’re doing everything right — but still running in circles?
You’re not lazy. You’re overextended. Most women founders aren’t struggling from lack of work ethic; they’re trapped in systems that reward burnout over brilliance. Working smarter isn’t about shortcuts — it’s about structure, strategy, and protecting your energy like equity.
Here’s how to start:
1. Systemize the Repetitive.
If you’re typing the same email, posting the same caption, or explaining the same process twice — automate it. Use free tools like Notion, Airtable, or ClickUp to create templates for onboarding, client communication, and social planning. Smart founders document once, reuse forever.
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Pro Tip: Record your screen with Loom next time you do a task. That recording becomes instant training material for future hires or virtual assistants.
2. Protect Your Prime Hours.
Identify your mental “money hours” — those 2–3 hours when your brain is sharpest — and guard them like capital. That’s when strategy, pricing, and decision-making should happen. Save admin work for low-energy time slots.
Myth vs. Fact:
❌ Myth: You need to be productive all day.
✅ Fact: You need to be effective for a few focused hours.
3. Measure Return on Energy (ROE), Not Just ROI.
Ask yourself weekly: “Which task drained me the most — and did it actually move the business forward?” If not, delegate or delete it. Efficiency isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing more of what matters.
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Hot Stat Highlight: Founders who delegate just 10% of low-value tasks report a 30% increase in growth productivity (Harvard Business Review, 2023).
4. Replace Hustle with Infrastructure.
Hustle helps you start. Infrastructure helps you scale. Invest in tools that buy back your time — accounting apps, scheduling links, AI copywriters. Every automated workflow frees up mental bandwidth for innovation and rest.
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Glossary Callout: Infrastructure means the systems that keep your business running without constant manual effort — from automations to SOPs to reliable people.
5. Rest Like It’s a Requirement.
Your creativity, leadership, and judgment all depend on rest. Treat downtime like a revenue strategy, because it is. When your mind resets, you make better decisions — and better decisions make more money.
Action Checklist:
✅ Identify 3 repetitive tasks to automate this week.
✅ Block your prime hours for deep work.
✅ Cut one energy-draining task that doesn’t move your bottom line.
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Written by
Khila James is the founder of Ovidia, empowering women of color in business through funding, tools, and community. A seasoned entrepreneur, she blends vision with strategy to help founders turn bold ideas into thriving, lasting ventures.
