When I first became an entrepreneur, I thought work meant grinding until I couldn’t go anymore.

And for years, that’s exactly what I did.

Just keep going.

Work harder.

Push longer.

I was part of Team No Sleep. 😂

And don’t get me wrong, I do believe there are seasons when you’re building where you have to work a little harder than you do in other seasons.

But as you grow as an entrepreneur, you start to realize that the goal isn’t to work yourself into the ground.

The goal is to buy back your time.

To find people who can do the things you no longer need to do—or the things you’re simply not that good at doing.

And let me help you with something on your entrepreneurial journey.

Most of your valuable time should be focused on thinking.

Thinking through the processes.

Thinking through the problems.

Thinking about what you want to implement in your business.

Then…

You execute.

But when I’m thinking through something, I don’t like to be disturbed.

The only person who has that kind of access to me is my wife.

Outside of that?

My phone is on DO NOT DISTURB.

I’m not talking to clients.

I’m not talking to my siblings.

I’m not even talking to my children.

Not because I don’t love them.

But because I understand the value of being intentional with my time.

And intentionality is one of your greatest superpowers as a founder.

Some people are busy, but they are not productive.

The goal is not to be busy for the sake of being busy.

The goal is to live intentionally.

Because busy work doesn’t automatically move the needle in your business.

Some people stay busy because being busy makes them feel important.

But activity and progress are not the same thing.

You can be exhausted and still not accomplish anything that actually matters.

People are not always going to understand what you’re building or what it takes to build it.

And that’s okay.

Some people are not going to like your boundaries.

That’s okay too.

You’re going to have to be unapologetic about protecting your time, your focus, and the work you’ve been called to do.

So don’t hesitate to tell anyone:

DON’T CALL ME WHEN I’M WORKING.

I’m not being rude.

I’m being intentional.