80/20 rule for solo-founders
Focus only on what moves the needle
Most solo founders get stuck in busy work.
I know because I was one of them.
Always working.
Never growing.
Until I discovered this simple truth.
80% of your growth comes from 20% of your actions.
Here's how to find and focus on that crucial 20%.
Stop everything you're doing…
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The Growth Audit
Seriously…stop everything you’re doing.
Pull up your revenue numbers from the last three months.
List every single thing that brought in money.
Be specific.
Now circle the top three.
These are your needle movers.
Everything else is noise.
The Shocking Reality
Most of your "marketing activities" probably aren't on that list.
Most of your "networking" isn't there either.
What you'll typically find:
Direct client outreach
Referral partnerships
One specific marketing channel
That's it.
The 80/20 Action Plan
Cut everything that isn't supporting your top three revenue generators.
Yes, everything.
It feels scary.
Do it anyway.
Your Calendar Reset
Look at yesterday's schedule.
Highlight activities that directly supported your top three.
Be brutally honest.
If you're like most founders, it's probably 20% of your day.
Or less.
Time for a change.
The Daily Power Block
Block out four hours every morning.
No emails.
No calls.
No social media.
Just focused work on your needle movers.
The Growth Accelerator
Pick your biggest revenue generator.
Now do more of exactly that.
Don't optimize it yet.
Don't try to improve it.
Just do more of what's already working.
The Counterintuitive Truth
Growth doesn't come from trying new things.
It comes from doubling down on what works.
Then doubling down again.
And again.
Real World Example
Sarah was a freelance writer.
Trying everything to grow:
Five social platforms
Three newsletters
Two podcasts
Multiple lead magnets
Revenue was flat.
The audit showed 80% of her clients came from LinkedIn posts.
Just LinkedIn posts.
Nothing else moved the needle.
She dropped everything else.
Doubled her LinkedIn effort.
Revenue doubled in 60 days.
The Implementation Plan
Week 1: Track every revenue source.
Week 2: Identify your top three.
Week 3: Cut everything else.
Week 4: Double down on number one.
That's it.
The Warning Signs
Watch for these growth killers:
Starting new projects before maximizing existing ones
Saying yes to non-needle moving opportunities
Optimizing things that don't matter
Diversifying too early
The Permission Slip
You have permission to:
Do less
Focus more
Say no
Double down
Keep it simple
Your business will thank you.
The Maintenance Check
Every month, ask yourself:
What actually brought in money?
What took time but produced nothing?
What should I do more of?
What should I cut?
Be ruthless.
Growth loves clarity.
The Next Level
Once you've maximized your top activities:
Systematize them
Delegate parts of them
Then find your next needle mover
But not before.
Get the Tiny Empires Courses
If you’re finding these weekly guides helpful, you may be interested in my Tiny Empires courses. These are:
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