Buy Back Your Time

Buying back your time lets you focus on what truly matters, unlocking creativity and taking your life to the next level.

1. Buying back your time opens up opportunities.

Entrepreneurs often get stuck in low-value tasks that eat up their time. Dan Martell proposes a dramatic shift in mindset: by identifying these tasks and outsourcing them, you can reclaim your time to focus on what you do best—dream big and execute creatively. This process isn’t just about work efficiency; it’s a method to regain your energy and grow your business far beyond its current capacity.

A striking example comes from Tom Clancy, the famous spy-thriller novelist. While his name appears on numerous bestsellers, Clancy hired ghostwriters to handle writing tasks. This freed him to craft overarching ideas and expand his franchise into movies, television series, and video games. By delegating the details, he amplified his brand.

Moreover, burning out while trying to micromanage every part of your business can harm relationships and health. Martell introduces the "Pain Line," a breaking point many entrepreneurs hit when they overextend themselves. Buying back your time avoids this trap, allowing sustainable growth and success.

Examples

• Tom Clancy hiring ghostwriters to expand his franchise.
• Entrepreneurs who work inefficiently while juggling excessive tasks.
• Leaders who avoid burnout by trusting capable employees to handle operations.

2. Stop doing tasks that don’t grow your business.

Many people mistakenly think they must handle all aspects of their businesses themselves. Martell explains this mindset doesn't just waste time—it holds you back from innovation, which is where true business growth happens. He suggests that owners divide their work into four areas: delegate, replace, invest, and produce.

The simplest starting point is delegation. Tasks like booking flights, handling invoices, or managing emails are easily transferable. Leaders often hesitate, worrying no one else can do these jobs as well. However, even if tasks are done 80% as well as you’d have done them, you get 100% of your time freed, which is priceless for strategizing or creating.

Replacing yourself in slightly more complex processes—like marketing or sales—takes more effort but follows the same principle. For instance, by implementing Martell’s 10-80-10 rule, you handle conceptualizing the first and last 10% of a project and delegate the middle 80%.

Examples

• A business owner hiring an assistant for disharmonizing small tasks.
• Using the 10-80-10 rule in marketing campaigns.
• Replacing yourself in customer follow-ups by using dedicated salespeople.

3. Determine your buyback rate.

One of the frequent barriers to hiring help is financial fear. Martell tackles this by introducing the idea of a "buyback rate," a simple calculation to figure out how much you're able to spend on delegating tasks. The formula—dividing your yearly income by 2,000 hours worked and then by four—shows you the hourly rate you can afford to pay someone.

For example, if you earn $100,000 a year, your buyback rate is $12.50 per hour. This rate makes hiring even part-time help plausible, freeing time and scaling your hourly earnings upward. You may not have Oprah Winfrey's budget, but well-allocated delegation works wonders even at modest income levels.

Spending 25% of your income on outsourcing fuels a positive feedback cycle. By reclaiming hours spent on menial jobs, you create time to focus on innovation—a key driver for business growth. Over time, the dividends far outweigh the initial cost.

Examples

• Calculating an hourly rate to spend on virtual assistants or interns.
• Entrepreneurs using freelance platforms like Upwork to affordably delegate tasks.
• A $50,000 income earner hiring help to still focus on creative endeavors.

4. Invest in hiring the right people.

Delegation starts with hiring the right team members, Martell emphasizes. Begin by clearly defining the traits you seek and the specific roles you want filled. Take your time with the process and get creative, like asking candidates to submit video applications. Videos offer an opportunity to assess a potential hire’s enthusiasm, tech-savviness, and ability to follow instructions.

The hiring process doesn’t end once someone is onboarded. Training is equally important. Martell recommends creating a robust "playbook" for new hires. This includes video tutorials (the camcorder method), task lists (a course), schedules (cadence), and detailed workflows (checklists).

Proper hiring and training are investments. Employees handle delegated tasks better when they’re immersed in structured, clear instructions, enabling you to stay in your high-value creativity zone.

Examples

• Asking candidates to film 5-minute introduction videos to assess personality.
• Using playbooks to train bakery employees on opening procedures.
• Recording billing instructions for repeated tasks to save time on training.

5. Transformational leadership gets the best results from your team.

Once hired, employees need to feel empowered if they’re to perform well. This requires shifting from what Martell calls “transactional leadership” to “transformational leadership.” Instead of micromanaging every task, give employees autonomy within clear goals. A guiding metric helps align their creativity with your company’s success.

For instance, rather than assigning employees certificates as busywork, explain the broader ambition—like code compliance—and let them decide how to achieve it. This builds their confidence and problem-solving skills while lightening your load.

By becoming a coach rather than a taskmaster, you create a high-functioning, motivated team that grows alongside your company.

Examples

• Giving office assistants freedom to redesign filing systems around efficiency.
• Transforming certification tasks into employee-led initiatives.
• Coaching team leads on outcome-driven strategies rather than rigid policies.

6. Design a “perfect week” schedule.

With time bought back, don’t let it slip away aimlessly. Martell advocates making a detailed "perfect week" schedule that batches similar tasks together. This minimizes distractions and prevents wasted energy. For instance, scheduling back-to-back podcast interviews means you don’t waste time transitioning.

Martell also emphasizes accounting for non-business activities like family dinners, exercise, or hobbies. A healthy work-life balance fosters creativity and sharpens focus. By planning slots for everything important, your week becomes an efficient yet joyful blueprint.

This practice ensures that the newly freed time gets spent growing your empire rather than drowning in disorganization.

Examples

• Batching tasks like social media planning or accounting into one weekly block.
• Preloading celebratory personal events like weddings on the calendar.
• Carving out time for gym sessions five times a week.

7. Time investment fuels growth and enjoyment.

Delegating tasks isn’t just about work; it's about freeing time for personal growth, relationships, and self-care. Reclaiming hours lets you explore hobbies or spend quality time with loved ones, fueling happiness outside the office.

Whether it's hiking, learning an instrument, or attending conferences, these activities refill your energy tank and spark fresh ideas. By nourishing your own creativity, you inadvertently bring that energy back into your work, allowing even greater outcomes.

Remember: empire builders thrive on inspiration, and inspiration can’t breathe without space to grow.

Examples

• Scheduling weekly family game nights.
• Developing photography as a relaxing creative outlet.
• Taking language classes to achieve long-held personal dreams.

8. Think big: Plan toward a 10X vision.

After reclaiming your time, use it effectively by pursuing ambitious goals. Martell calls this the 10X vision—dream about growth on an exponential scale, not incremental. Whether it’s writing a bestseller, traveling the globe, or designing products used worldwide, no dream is too large when you create an actionable plan.

This doesn’t mean aiming vaguely; break the goal into smaller, time-bound steps. Use yearly and weekly schedules to break tasks down, ensuring you continually inch closer to your grand vision.

Big goals often trigger fear, but with disciplined planning, what seems impossible becomes achievable.

Examples

• Mapping out six-month milestones toward a massive product launch.
• Scheduling checkpoints to track progress toward writing a book series.
• Defining annual growth objectives for expansion into new markets.

9. Your time is a tool—use it wisely.

Finally, remember that your time is currency. How you choose to spend it defines the value you generate. Filling it with low-priority tasks squanders this potential. Instead, prioritize areas of work and life that bring meaning, satisfaction, and tangible returns.

By remaining mindful of how you allocate each hour, you ensure sustained progress, balance, and enjoyment—the hallmarks of a fulfilling entrepreneurial life.

Examples

• Prioritizing innovation over email responses during peak creativity hours.
• Setting boundaries by scheduling uninterrupted deep work blocks.
• Spending dinner time fully engaged with family instead of multitasking.

Takeaways

1. Calculate your buyback rate and start outsourcing tasks today.
2. Schedule and stick to a perfect week that combines work, growth, and relaxation.
3. Develop a 10X vision and create deadlines for major milestones to reach your biggest dreams.