Hey :)
We all get the same 24 hours.
So the difference isn’t time.
It’s the quality of the time we use for our most important work.
We all get the same 24 hours.
So the difference isn’t time.
It’s the quality of the time we use for our most important work.
I’m talking specifically about project work.
The thinking, creating, and problem-solving that actually shapes the future of the business.
The thinking, creating, and problem-solving that actually shapes the future of the business.
Most people focus on getting more time.
I’m more interested in increasing the value of the time you already have.
I’m more interested in increasing the value of the time you already have.
Here’s the rough process as I see it.
Step one: Make the time
Time blocking. Creating protected space. What I think of as “20% time” — non-reactive, non-urgent work.
Time blocking. Creating protected space. What I think of as “20% time” — non-reactive, non-urgent work.
Step two: learn how to operate inside that time
Rules. Environment. Fewer inputs. Fewer distractions. Knowing how you need to show up so the time doesn’t get diluted.
Rules. Environment. Fewer inputs. Fewer distractions. Knowing how you need to show up so the time doesn’t get diluted.
Step three: Increase how much of this time you have
Once you’ve protected the time and learned how to operate inside it, the next lever is volume. Creating more space in your week for this kind of work — by removing lower-value tasks, delegating, or saying no more often.
Step four: Increase the quality of that time
This is the compounding lever. Choosing work with long-term return, higher leverage, and real impact. Less urgent, more important. Less action, more thinking. Work that only you can do.
Step four: Increase the quality of that time
This is the compounding lever. Choosing work with long-term return, higher leverage, and real impact. Less urgent, more important. Less action, more thinking. Work that only you can do.
Most people stop at quantity.
The real leverage is in quality.
The real leverage is in quality.
This was reinforced by a comment Dan left recently:
“I’ve been grateful for giving myself the freedom to get stuck into a project to work on the future of the business.
The only real block was me.
It was a bit of a revelation that I could choose to work on something that didn’t have an immediate return — a longer-term investment. Definitely an 80/20 moment that last week flipped to a 20/80 pursuit. And so productive!”
That line — the only real block was me — feels important.
Because once the time exists, the real question becomes: what do you put inside it?
Here’s a simple spectrum I’ve found useful.
Poor-quality 20% time looks like:
- Short-term return
- Lower leverage
- Busy work
- Work that almost anyone could do
- Action-heavy
- Urgent
- “What needs done today?”
High-quality 20% time looks like:
- Long-term return
- High leverage over time
- Work only you can do
- Thinking and creating
- Ideas over actions
- Important (not urgent)
- “What makes everything else easier later?”
Both can feel productive.
Only one compounds.
Only one compounds.
So the question isn’t just: “How do I get more deep work time?”
It’s: “How do I move my 20% time further to the right of this spectrum?”
Because protecting time is one decision.
Choosing long-term, high-leverage work inside that time is another.
Choosing long-term, high-leverage work inside that time is another.
And that second decision is where the value really shows up.
🗣️ 👀
Chris.
Chris.