RS328: Are you Productive or Effective as a founder?

Running a business is both incredibly rewarding and exhausting. Over the years, I’ve experienced highs of motivation and productivity, but I’ve also hit those low points, battling burnout and loneliness. In this post, I want to share some of the habits, strategies, and mindset shifts that have helped me stay in the game and maintain the discipline and accountability necessary to keep moving forward. If you’re a founder—or on any long-term entrepreneurial journey—I hope these insights can help you do the same.

Watch on YouTube

The Isolation of Being a Founder

Being a single founder can be a lonely journey. For me, working from home, with my wife and kids out for the day, often leaves me in the company of my dog and cats. While solitude has its perks, isolation can be damaging to both motivation and productivity.

• Find Community: Join a mastermind group or work from a co-working space. Being around people, even casually, can be a game-changer. I started playing tennis twice a week—not because I’m a tennis fanatic, but because it gives me a social outlet and some physical exercise. Finding balance between work, family, and social time is key to staying mentally sharp.
• Surround Yourself with Peers: Programs like TinySeed or the DC Accelerator not only offer education but surround you with like-minded individuals who push you to level up. In my career, the periods when I’ve had a strong community around me have been my most productive.

Accountability: The Secret Weapon for Consistent Progress

One of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship is the idea of the “solopreneur” doing everything on their own. The reality? Success comes from being accountable, whether it’s to your team or an external source.

• Accountability to Your Team: I’ve got payroll to meet, and employees who count on me. That creates built-in accountability. But even if you’re a one-person operation, you need some form of this. Whether it’s a peer accountability partner or joining a program with structured check-ins, having someone who will ask, “Did you get that done?” is crucial.
• Accountability Buddy: Inspired by a conversation with Rob Walling, I decided to create My Founder Pal, an accountability network for founders to check in with each other regularly. It’s still in its early stages, but the idea is to create a system where we set goals and follow up on progress, offering each other the motivation to keep pushing forward.

Daily Structure for Focus and Efficiency

One simple habit that has had a huge impact on my productivity is making a list of three things I need to get done each day. I literally put the notebook on my keyboard so it’s the first thing I see before starting my day. These can be small tasks, but they are important things that move the needle. I prefer to write the list in the morning so I have a fresh perspective on what matters most that day.

This simple act keeps me focused on what’s essential, rather than getting distracted by Slack or email first thing in the morning. It’s about prioritizing effectiveness over productivity—doing what matters most rather than just doing more things.

Sharing Your Work

Another aspect of accountability that I’ve found useful is sharing my work with my team. Whether it’s a new YouTube video or an internal operations playbook, I post it in Slack for feedback and accountability. It not only helps me feel more productive, but it also fosters a sense of friendly competition among my team.

Avoiding Negativity and Overanalysis

We all have tough days, but one of the worst habits I’ve fallen into is bitching and complaining when things aren’t going well. It’s