How to Grow a Profitable Business Without Overworking

Overworking **isn’t** the key to success.

Many entrepreneurs believe that building a successful business requires working long hours, sacrificing personal time, and constantly being “on.” But what if that’s not the key to sustainable success? 

The truth is, overworking often stems from fear—fear of not doing enough, fear of failure, and even fear of success. Yet, the most successful entrepreneurs don’t hustle harder; they work smarter.

By implementing strategic boundaries, refining focus, and optimizing time, it’s possible to scale without stress. That’s exactly what I unpacked with Kim Argetsinger in my most recent YouTube video. 

Kim is a business coach with a mission to help you create *your* version of business success and make money on *your* terms. 

With 10+ years of experience, she’s scaled her business without burnout while bringing in almost $1.6 million in revenue in the last 6 years. She doesn’t just make great money—she actually takes home great money (because what’s the point of big revenue if there’s nothing left for you at the end?).

And guess what? She used to be the person working until 3 a.m., thinking more hours = more success.

So how did she break the cycle? 

In this blog post, I’m going to dive into 7 strategies I discussed with Kim that helped her cut her work hours without sacrificing income. 

• Create the Right Mindset

When Kim first started her business, she was burning the midnight oil—literally working until 3 a.m. She recalls, “I was really willing to work on things that didn’t matter, that didn’t move the needle forward, because it was a self-soothing mechanism for me. […] I felt like I could show [people] how hard I’m working.”

Like many entrepreneurs, Kim fell into the common trap of equating long hours with success. She thought that putting in more hours would validate her results. “If I do more, won’t I get more?” she wondered. But the truth is, productivity isn’t just about doing more—it’s about doing what matters.

This is where many entrepreneurs get stuck—they believe that working more hours automatically leads to more money. But that isn’t necessarily true. As Kim later realized, “I don’t have my results because I overworked. I have my results in spite of that.”

Kim’s story is a perfect example of how mindset drives productivity. She explained, “Mindset drives 80 to 90% of our results. […] The biggest reason for my success has been the mindset. It has also been having the right strategy, the right systems in place, and the right team in place. [However], I couldn’t have used and implemented those or trusted them had I not had the mindset to back it up.”

This insight is gold. You can have the best strategies in the world, but if your mindset is stuck in scarcity or fear, you won’t implement them effectively. Kim’s breakthrough wasn’t just about finding better systems—it was about shifting her mindset. 

To break free from the cycle of overwork and step into a more productive, balanced approach, consider adopting these powerful mindset shifts:

1. Letting Go of the Belief that Success Requires Suffering
2. Recognizing that More Work Doesn’t Always Equal More Results
3. Trusting That Scaling Smarter (Not Harder) is Possible

To implement these mindset shifts, start by auditing your current beliefs about work and success. Ask yourself:

• Do I believe that working harder is the only way to achieve my goals?
• Am I focusing on tasks that truly move the needle, or just staying busy to feel productive?
• Do I trust my team and systems enough to delegate effectively?

By consciously shifting your mindset and focusing on high-impact activities, you can break free from the cycle of overwork and start achieving more—while working less.

• Use the 80/20 Rule & Prioritize High-Impact Tasks

The 80/20 rule (also known as the Pareto Principle) states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Essentially, it’s all about focusing on the few tasks that generate the most significant results.

By identifying and prioritizing these high-impact tasks, you can achieve more while doing less. Yet, many business owners spend too much time on low-impact tasks that don’t move the needle.

In our discussion, Kim said, “One of the biggest gifts I’ve given to myself is really understanding the few things my business needs to create results. […] So I focus a lot on what is the 80-20 [rule]: How can we do less, better?” 

She continued, “I made more profit and took home more money last year, even though our revenue stayed about the same and I worked fewer hours. A big reason for that is we did a really big audit on strategies…we didn’t need anymore, and cut out some big ticket items. That made us more efficient and helped us literally get better results and take home more.”

The 80/20 approach isn’t just about doing less—it’s about doing what matters most. By regularly auditing your tasks and asking, “What truly drives results?” you can eliminate unnecessary work, delegate or automate routine tasks, and focus your energy where it counts.

To start working smarter, ask yourself:

• What tasks actually contribute to revenue and business growth?
• What activities drain my time but don’t produce meaningful results?
• What can I eliminate, automate, or delegate?

A simple business that focuses on a few powerful strategies is far more effective than one that’s spread thin across multiple distractions. Even if something is working, consider that it may not be worth the time or energy it takes to make it work. 

• Focus on One Main Service/Offer

When most people think about scaling a business, they imagine expanding in every direction—adding new products, launching more services, hiring a bigger team, and constantly chasing new ideas. But here’s the irony: the most successful business owners do the opposite. They simplify. They focus on one core offer and continuously refine it.

Kim is a great example of this approach. She shared, “I don’t think anybody understands how easy and simple my business is. All I have done and the only thing I have offered and sold and focused on is learning how to sell and create better and better and refined that. That is all I have done for nine years.”

She didn’t chase the latest trends or try to do everything at once. Instead, she became a master of her craft, focusing on one service and perfecting it over time. “If anybody wants a secret to success, that’s the secret,” she revealed.

This approach works because it eliminates the noise. By focusing on one offer, you:

• Build mastery and authority in your niche.
• Streamline your marketing efforts since all messaging revolves around one core solution.
• Reduce operational complexity, freeing up time and resources to optimize and innovate.

Instead of spreading yourself thin by juggling multiple products or services, you can double down on what works. This focus not only makes your business easier to manage but also leads to higher profitability.

If you want to scale without overwhelming yourself or your team, consider adopting this success formula: Master one offer instead of chasing new ideas.

The temptation to constantly launch new products or services is real, especially when inspiration strikes or when you see others doing it. But the truth is, every new offer adds complexity. By focusing on one offer, you can master the messaging, fine-tune the delivery, and build a loyal customer base that knows you for one thing you do exceptionally well. This laser focus allows you to become the go-to expert in your niche.

• Set Boundaries to Protect Your Time and Energy

One of the biggest reasons business owners feel overwhelmed is that they are too available. In today’s digital age, clients, team members, and even personal contacts can reach you at any time, creating a constant stream of interruptions. If you’re not careful, this can lead to burnout, frustration, and a lack of focus on high-priority tasks. 

The key to reclaiming your time and mental space? Clear, intentional boundaries.

Kim has mastered this approach, recognizing that boundary-setting isn’t just about restricting access—it’s about creating intentional availability. She shared, “I’ve really gotten clear on what my boundaries are and when I’m available and when I’m not available.”

​​Communicate Boundaries Clearly

The first step to effective boundary-setting is to communicate your availability clearly to clients, team members, and even family members. Kim emphasizes this when working with her clients:
“I offer quite a bit of support between sessions when I want to, but I let my clients know […] there need to be boundaries. I will hold my boundaries around that so that they don’t have to worry.”

By proactively stating when she is and isn’t available, Kim empowers her clients to reach out when needed without feeling guilty. At the same time, she maintains control over her schedule and prevents burnout by managing expectations.

Create Structured Availability

One of the most effective ways to maintain boundaries is by scheduling specific times to check messages and engage with clients. This prevents constant interruptions and allows you to be fully present during these dedicated times. 

For example, Kim has scheduled times she checks-in between sessions with clients. She also limits where she accesses client communications. She remains focused and intentional, ensuring that her attention is fully on her clients during those windows while maintaining her focus on other tasks at other times.

These boundaries don’t just apply to work—they’re essential for maintaining personal well-being. It’s important to protect personal time from work-related interruptions by doing things such as setting your phone on do-not-disturb when out to dinner with family or friends. 

Here are a few practical strategies to help you set and maintain boundaries like Kim:

1. Use Separate Communication Channels (Keep business messages separate from personal texts to prevent distractions.)
2. Scheduled Response Times
3. Phone on Do Not Disturb
4. Train Clients and Team Members

If you’re always responding to notifications, you’re working on everyone else’s schedule instead of your own. Boundaries aren’t about being unavailable—they’re about being available intentionally. By protecting your focus and mental space, you’re able to give your best when you are present while maintaining balance.

• Use AI and Automation to Save Time

There’s a common misconception that AI is here to replace business owners, creatives, or teams. In reality, AI is a powerful tool that, when used strategically, can support and amplify your efforts. It’s not about handing off all your tasks to a machine—it’s about using AI as an assistant to streamline your workflow and free up time for high-level thinking and creativity.

Kim has found value in using AI to enhance her productivity, not by outsourcing her voice but by leveraging AI as a tool for refinement and efficiency. “I’m not having ChatGPT write content. I’m having it help me after I write content to refine it or to generate or to improve it,” she explained. This distinction is crucial: AI is not meant to replace her voice or creativity but to enhance and polish it.

The key to leveraging AI effectively is to use it strategically, as a support system rather than a replacement. Kim shared how AI helps her save time without compromising quality:
“It’s helping me save time in terms of synthesizing ideas or editing and refining.”

Instead of using AI to generate generic content, she uses it to enhance what she’s already created—whether that’s by refining her messaging, organizing her ideas more clearly, or polishing her writing.

Here are a few powerful ways AI can enhance your productivity and help you work smarter:

1. Refining and Editing Content
2. Summarizing Transcripts and Key Takeaways
3. Generating Ideas Based on Past Content
4. Handling Research Tasks to Save Time

Think of AI as an assistant that enhances and amplifies your work. As Kim demonstrates, the magic happens when you use AI to refine, improve, and streamline what you’ve already created.

AI is a powerful ally in modern business. It won’t replace you—it will free you. By leveraging AI to handle repetitive tasks, enhance creativity, and improve productivity, you can reclaim your time and focus on high-impact activities that drive your business forward.

• Outsource: Let Go of Control for More Freedom

Many entrepreneurs struggle with delegation because they fear things won’t be done as well as they would do them. They hold on tightly to every task, believing that if they want it done right, they have to do it themselves. But here’s the truth: holding onto everything yourself limits your growth and leads to burnout.

Kim learned this lesson firsthand. “I would not be able to run my business the way I do if I did not have support… I probably could, but I would just be burnt out,” she admitted. She realized that scaling her business required trusting others to help carry the load.

But trusting others isn’t always easy, especially when you’re used to doing everything yourself. Kim’s success with delegation didn’t come naturally—it was something she had to learn. “I’m excellent at hiring, delegating, and running a team now, but I think most of us did not come into business to run and manage teams. I really had to learn that people are going to screw up, and you are going to pay people to screw up to learn. What I have to remember is I’m going to screw up too,” she explained.

One of the biggest mindset shifts in mastering delegation is realizing that mistakes will happen—and that’s okay. Expecting perfection from your team is unrealistic and unfair. 

Kim shared, “People on my team probably do things better than me, but the expectation that they are going to be perfect feels like such an unfair expectation.”

This shift in perspective allowed her to approach mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures. “[My team’s] job is not to be perfect or to never make a mistake. Their job is for us to understand when a mistake happens [and] how we can solve the right problem.” 

By letting go of the need for perfection, Kim empowered her team to grow and innovate, ultimately leading to a stronger, more resilient business.

Mastering delegation isn’t just about handing off tasks—it’s about creating a system that empowers your team to succeed while freeing you to focus on the highest-impact areas of your business. Here’s how to do it:

1. Accept That Mistakes Will Happen—They’re Part of Learning
2. Hire for Efficiency, Not Perfection
3. Train Team Members Properly So They Understand Expectations
4. Focus on the Outcome, Not Micromanaging Every Detail

When you delegate well, you free up time to focus on the highest-impact areas of your business—strategic planning, innovation, and growth. Kim’s journey to mastering delegation allowed her to scale her business without burning out, ultimately achieving more by doing less.

The key takeaway? Stop trying to do everything yourself. Instead, build a team you can trust, empower them to learn from mistakes, and focus on the big picture. By letting go of perfectionism and embracing strategic delegation, you’ll not only grow your business but also gain the freedom to focus on what truly matters.

• Pre-Determine Priorities to Find Focus & Cut Back Distractions

Distractions aren’t just about social media notifications or noisy environments—they’re about a lack of clarity on what truly matters. Many business owners feel scattered because they sit down to work without a clear plan, leaving them vulnerable to distractions and decision fatigue. The solution? Pre-deciding your priorities before your day even begins.

Kim uses this approach, ensuring she never starts her workday feeling aimless or overwhelmed. She explains, “I pre-decide and know what I’m going to spend my time on and what’s a priority. I’m not sitting down at my computer thinking, ‘What do I need to do today?’ or ‘What piece of content do I need to write?’ or ‘What does my business need?’ Because that decision fatigue thing will create overwhelm.”

Avoid Decision Fatigue

One of the main causes of distraction is decision fatigue—the mental exhaustion that comes from making too many choices. When you sit down to work without a plan, you waste valuable energy figuring out what to do first. This not only drains your focus but also opens the door to distractions, like checking social media or getting lost in your inbox.

Kim avoids this trap by never coming to her desk unprepared: “I know exactly what I’m going to work on and use that time for. That actually really helps me focus when I go to work.”

By having her tasks planned out in advance, Kim eliminates unnecessary decisions and maximizes her productivity. This clarity allows her to jump straight into high-impact work without hesitation or distraction.

Here are some practical ways to implement this strategy and protect your focus:

1. Pre-Decide Tasks
   Before ending your workday, make a list of the specific tasks you’ll tackle the next day. 
2. Eliminate Unnecessary Decisions
   The more decisions you make, the more mental energy you consume. By planning your tasks in advance, you reduce mental clutter and conserve energy for your most important work.
3. Set Physical and Digital Boundaries
   Distractions aren’t just mental—they’re also physical and digital. Create a distraction-free workspace by turning off notifications on your phone and computer.
4. Batch Similar Tasks
   Grouping similar tasks, such as content creation or administrative work, allows you to maintain focus without constantly switching contexts.

The Real Cause of Distraction: Competing Priorities

If you struggle with focus, it’s likely because you have too many competing priorities. When everything seems urgent, it’s impossible to focus on one thing without feeling guilty about another. The solution is to simplify your business and schedule.

When you prioritize what truly matters and eliminate non-essential tasks, focus becomes easier—not harder. By reducing the noise, you give yourself permission to fully engage with the task at hand, leading to more meaningful progress and less mental exhaustion.

Final Thoughts: Build a Business That Works for YOU

Scaling a business doesn’t have to mean more stress, more hours, or more complexity. The key is to refine what already works, eliminate what doesn’t, and protect your time fiercely. By setting boundaries, prioritizing high-impact work, leveraging AI and outsourcing strategically, you can build a thriving business without burning out.

Watch the Full Discussion on YouTube

For a deeper dive into these topics, watch our full conversation here: How to Work Less & Earn More Without the Guilt

You can also follow Kim on Instagram or join her Facebook Group: Business Besties & Creative Bosses. 

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Want more strategies and tools to help you cut back on your work hours? Let’s sit down together in a 1:1 session. We can assess your specific goals and get you set up with the tools you need to finally scale your business and eliminate the stress.