Do More By Doing Less - Time Freedom for Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Solopreneurs

Charles Alexander
  • 5.0 (15)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Do More by Doing Less podcast with Charles Alexander, the show for Small Business Owners, Start Ups, and Busy Folks! This is not another productivity, hustle, and grind podcast. I literally want you to do less. Many of us are overwhelmed, frustrated, and need a break. The good news is that we can accomplish much more than now. Once we focus on the vital few, and prioritize things that make our lives and the lives of people around us better, we can “do more by doing less”. This podcast is funny, simple, and has real-world stories. The episodes alternate between my solo podcasts and guest podcasts. In the solo episodes I share stories and frameworks from my experience in coaching small business owners and my own entrepreneurship endeavors. Oh, and any other story that can get a laugh while sticking to the theme of the podcast😊 In the guest podcasts, I will bring on other entrepreneurs who will share their expertise and discuss their own methods for doing more by doing less. That’s it. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode and have fun listening while you drive, do the dishes, or mow the lawn!

  1. 1D AGO

    It Is Riskier to Work for Someone Else Than to Work For Yourself

    Is owning a business actually riskier than having a job?  By the way, I have both, so I'm not exactly a "burn the boats" kind of guy:) Show Summary: In this episode, I share the story of turning down a “safe” corporate job at John Deere during a recession and why that decision completely changed how I think about risk. Most people assume entrepreneurship is unstable, but after years of coaching and business ownership, I’ve realized depending on one paycheck can be just as risky. Takeaways: • A steady paycheck does not always equal security. • Multiple income streams can reduce long-term risk. • Friends and family often discourage entrepreneurship because it feels unfamiliar to them. • Modern business owners have more tools, automation, and flexibility than ever before. • Starting a business while working full-time can lower financial pressure and help you test ideas safely. Action For You To Take: Look at your current income situation honestly. Ask yourself where all your financial security currently comes from. Then identify one small way to create an additional stream of income, even if it starts as a side project. What To Do Next: If you want help building time freedom while still growing your business or even starting one, schedule a quick, non-sales, chat with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

    7 min

  2. APR 14

    100th Episode of Do More By Doing Less

    What actually matters after 100 episodes of doing more by doing less? Show Summary: This 100th episode is a reflection on the biggest lessons I’ve learned from conversations with people like Bob Burg, Jason Elkins, Emily Heard, and others. The common thread is simple. Success does not come from doing more. It comes from focusing on what actually creates value, protecting your time, and being intentional with your effort. Takeaways: • Value drives results. Focus on helping people, not chasing money. • Small wins and perspective shifts can reset a bad week fast. • Most distractions come from dopamine chasing, not real progress. • Simple, meaningful goals outperform complex long-term plans. • Consistent relationships and serving others compound over time. Action For You To Take: Pick one area this week to simplify. Cut one unnecessary task. Double down on one activity that creates real value for someone else. What To Do Next: If you want help building time freedom while still growing your business, schedule a quick, non-sales, chat with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

    16 min

  3. MAR 17

    Breaking Bad...Habits

    In 2023, I had knee replacement surgery and I went in for several follow-up appointments.  It seems like every time I go in for a follow-up appointment, they ask me these same 15 questions they asked me last time, because why would that automate and populate (something about HIPAA, blah, blah, blah 🤔.) I usually get frustrated, but once in a while, I don't mind it so much because I like answering some of the questions. Why? Because I've developed some better healthy habits later in my life than I had earlier in my life.So, we'll, when the questionnaire says, "Hey, are you on any new prescription medications?", I get to check. Nope.And if it asks me, "Have you had any additional surgeries or hospitalizations?" Sure haven't.What about a smoker? Are you a smoker, Charles? Certainly not.Then it gets to the question, "Do you drink more than once or twice a week?" And you know, I lie.There are bad habits that many of us have developed myself as well.  have a ton of bad habits that I must continually figure out how to break. And a bad habit, once ingrained and once wired into us, kind of sticks around forever, until you remove certain cues or rewire it.F or example, I've turned into my dad.At night, 8:30 or so I sit down on the couch or rather the chair with the ottoman and try to watch TV with the family. Something usually wonderful like the Voice, God help us 🤣 and I'll pass out pretty quickly cuz you know, dad stuff.I remember my dad would do that as we were kids and I would try to change the channel and. He instinctively knew and would wake up and say, "Oh, Tom Watson's on the 18th hole. Put it back." How he did that, I didn't know. Now I do, that's called being dad tired 😴. But either way, it sucks and it's not a family-friendly thing to do.Another bad habit I have is grabbing a snack from the pantry if I see something tempting, like Pringles, or Tabasco-flavored Cheez-its.In our personal lives and in our businesses, recognizing the cue that causes the bad habit is the first step to breaking it. For instance:If you have a bad habit of checking your email constantly throughout the day, you might need to change your environment by closing your email client or turning off notifications during specific work hours.Another bad habit you might have in your business is if you've delegated a task to someone quite capable, but then you can't help but check in on them and then tell them how to do the task over and over. Instead, you need to give yourself a timeframe before checking in or have whomever you're checking in with sending you a mini-report.Or better yet, if you're one of these folks that can't keep a lot of savings in the account because it kind of burns a hole in your pocket and you suddenly think of 15 more things you need to buy with that money. You may need to remove the app that allows you to check your account or keep a list handy of all of your upcoming expenses.Changing your cue, changing your environment. For me, I no longer sit on that same chair with an ottoman to watch these god-awful TV shows with my family. I'll sit on the ottoman most of the time and sit straight up.When I go to the pantry now, all of the snacks that I would normally get are now placed behind bins and I use MyFitness Pal.

    9 min

  4. MAR 3

    Hustle Culture Doesn't Work For Me (or You)

    Tired of hustle culture telling you to sacrifice everything just to “make it”? Show Summary: In this episode, I challenge the grind-at-all-costs mindset and explain why success does not require burnout, arrogance, or sacrificing your entire life. Using the classic stones, pebbles, and sand analogy, I break down how to prioritize what actually matters so you can build a successful business and still enjoy your life. The goal is not to reject ambition, but to align it with your real priorities instead of someone else’s version of success. Takeaways: • Hustle culture often glorifies imbalance and burnout. • You can be successful without sacrificing sleep, family, health, or faith. • Your “stones” are the few non-negotiables that make everything else work. • Many people overload their jar with pebbles and sand, then wonder why life feels chaotic. • Clear priorities create both progress and peace. Action For You To Take: Identify your top three “stones” in life and business. Protect them first each week. Then evaluate which pebbles and sand you can reduce, delegate, or eliminate. What To Do Next: If you want help building time freedom while still growing your business, schedule a quick, non-sales, chat with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

    7 min

  5. FEB 17

    The Early Mistakes You Are Still Carrying

    Why do two-thirds of small businesses fail in the first few years? Show Summary: In this episode, I break down the three patterns I’ve seen since I started coaching in 2007 that quietly derail entrepreneurs and busy professionals. The stats say only about 30 percent make it long term. From my experience, the difference usually comes down to experience, confidence, and planning. These issues start early, but if left unchecked, they follow you forever. The good news is each one is fixable. Takeaways: • A lack of continued experience keeps people repeating the same mistakes year after year. • A lack of confidence often grows from not recognizing what you already know. • A lack of planning turns every week into reactive chaos instead of intentional progress. Action For You To Take: This week, do three simple things. First, identify one skill gap and commit to learning something specific about it. Second, write down ten things you already know how to do well to rebuild confidence. Third, spend ten minutes planning your week around one clear priority. If you want help building a business that works without consuming your life, learn more about working with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

    8 min

  6. FEB 3

    Daddy, Will You Read Me a Story? - Habits That Stick

    Ever end the day exhausted and still feel like the most important things got pushed to tomorrow? That sweet Lilly Bug:) She's always good for a lesson or two. Show Summary: In this episode, I talk about why burnout usually isn’t caused by doing the wrong things, but by trying to do everything. Using a simple bedtime story moment with my daughter Lilly, I explain how a few keystone habits can quietly create progress in both life and business, even on the most exhausting days. The focus is not intensity or hustle, but protecting what truly matters so everything else becomes easier or optional. Takeaways: • Burnout often comes from overloading yourself, not from poor effort or discipline. • Most real progress comes from just one or two keystone habits. • Consistency beats intensity when energy is limited. • Keystone habits quietly compound over time, even when they feel small in the moment. • Successful business owners protect a few critical behaviors instead of doing more. Action For You To Take: This week, identify just two keystone habits for your life or business. Protect them daily. Treat this as a one week experiment and see what improves when you stop trying to do everything. If you want help identifying and defending those habits with real accountability, that’s exactly what I do through Time Freedom Weekly coaching via video messaging. Learn more at yourcharlesalexander.com.

    5 min

  7. JAN 20

    Be Productive Without Being a Weirdo

    I've about reached my limit with #hustleculture. You can be productive without telling everyone how you are on a mission to change the world. Chill out for a minute and calm down:) Show Summary: In this episode, I explain why chasing big, ever changing goals often creates more stress than progress. Instead, I share a simpler approach. Design the week you actually want to live, then fit your priorities around it. Using a real client example, I show how building a balanced schedule across work, family, self care, faith, and relationships can create clarity and momentum without needing a perfect long term plan. Takeaways: • Massive goals can overwhelm and stall progress.  • A well designed week is more powerful than a distant plan. • Scheduling life first reduces distraction and burnout.  What You Should Do: This week, sketch your ideal week on paper. Block time for work, family, self care, and relationships first, then build everything else around it.  Learn more about working with me at yourcharlesalexander.com.

    6 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    Best of Do More By Doing Less - 2025 edition

    Ever wish you could take the best lessons from a whole year of conversations and boil them down into something useful and entertaining? Show Summary: In this special highlights episode, I pull together my favorite moments from 2025, just like those old Golden Girls clip shows I loved as a kid. You’ll hear insights from bestselling author John G. Miller on personal accountability, Emily Heard on dopamine discipline, and Katherine Good on using AI the right way. I also share practical segments of my own on setting meaningful goals, making decisions faster, and building accountability that actually sticks. This episode is a mix of inspiration, clarity, and real talk about becoming a better leader and a better human. Takeaways: • John G. Miller explains that real accountability starts with asking better internal questions instead of blaming outside circumstances. • A meaningful goal needs a deeper personal reason behind it; the number alone won’t motivate you. • Emily Heard shows how every dopamine spike is followed by withdrawal, which creates anxiety, irritability, and restlessness. • Quick decisions come from clear filters: Is it a yes? Am I the only one who should do it? Is it right? What constraints will keep me focused? • Katherine Good demonstrates how to use AI as a brainstorming partner, not a replacement for your own creativity and judgment. • You are far more likely to reach your goals when someone else knows about them and helps hold you accountable. If you want support sticking to your goals, I offer weekly video or voice message coaching. Visit yourcharlesalexander.com or reach out at Charles@yourcharlesalexander.com to learn more.

    17 min
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5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Do More by Doing Less podcast with Charles Alexander, the show for Small Business Owners, Start Ups, and Busy Folks! This is not another productivity, hustle, and grind podcast. I literally want you to do less. Many of us are overwhelmed, frustrated, and need a break. The good news is that we can accomplish much more than now. Once we focus on the vital few, and prioritize things that make our lives and the lives of people around us better, we can “do more by doing less”. This podcast is funny, simple, and has real-world stories. The episodes alternate between my solo podcasts and guest podcasts. In the solo episodes I share stories and frameworks from my experience in coaching small business owners and my own entrepreneurship endeavors. Oh, and any other story that can get a laugh while sticking to the theme of the podcast😊 In the guest podcasts, I will bring on other entrepreneurs who will share their expertise and discuss their own methods for doing more by doing less. That’s it. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode and have fun listening while you drive, do the dishes, or mow the lawn!

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