As we go into Q2, we want to ensure we are working as smart as possible.
One of the things I love about interviewing the incredible guests I have on the Lean Out Your Business Podcast is hearing the ways in which they work smarter, not harder, and keep things lean.
It is a question I ask every guest, and their answers are always smart, strategic, and inspiring.
I've created a round-up of the insights and wisdom shared by my incredible guests from Q1 on how they work smarter, not harder, and how you can too.
Although everyone shared something different, their insights broke down into 3 consistent themes:
1. Stay Focused on Your Genius Work
A great starting point in working smarter is honing in on what you're truly exceptional at. Guests emphasized the significance of identifying your zone of genius and then ruthlessly delegating anything that falls outside of it. 
“I believe in hiring experts for things that are not in my zone of genius, and that has been a game-changer for my business." - Lisa Jones
“I focus on what only I can do to continue growing my business, and I delegate everything else." - Lindsey Hammond
"I think the number one thing we can do as entrepreneurs is to really focus on our genius, and that might mean leaning into others for their genius as well." - Jessica Sato
2. Keep Things Simple
Simplicity is the name of the game when it comes to maximizing efficiency. Guests hammered home the importance of cutting through the noise and zeroing in on what truly moves the needle. For great results in less time, get clear on what really matters and do that, and only that, really well.
"Keep it simple. Don't reinvent the wheel. You don't have to do all of the things. Just figure out the one thing and do that one thing really well, whatever it is." - Dom Farnan
3. Optimize vs. Reinvent
Guests stressed the value of fine-tuning and refining what's already working. Rather than focusing on new things and constantly reinventing, optimize what you are doing already, from your visibility strategy to your metrics and KPIs. It's all about squeezing every drop of efficiency out of your existing processes and strategies.
"Do things that don’t cause waste. Instead of throwing out a whole new idea, look at and frequently reevaluate your key performance indicators to see if you’re on point. Review them, adjust them, and keep looking at them." - Marcia Riner
"Don’t do more than you have to do. It's all about having a minimum viable content strategy." - Abby Herman
Working smarter, not harder, isn't just a catchphrase; it's a mindset shift that can revolutionize how we approach our businesses.
By staying focused on our areas of expertise, simplifying our processes, and continuously optimizing our strategies, we lay the foundation for sustained growth and success. You can choose to make the commitment to prioritizing efficiency, and productivity, and embrace innovation where it truly matters.
Listen to these and other inspiring guest episodes by tuning in and subscribing to the Lean Out Your Business Podcast!
by Crista Grasso
Crista Grasso is the go-to strategic planning expert for leading global businesses and online entrepreneurs when they want to scale. Known as the "Business Optimizer", Crista has the ability to quickly cut through noise and focus on optimizing the core things that will make the biggest impact to scale a business simply and sustainably. She specializes in helping businesses gain clarity on the most important things that will drive maximum value for their clients and maximum profits for their business. She is the creator of the Lean Out Method, 90 Day Lean Out Planner, and host of the Lean Out Your Business Podcast.
