The ability to scale a business is inextricably linked with your capacity to scale yourself. This is a fundamental principle that every entrepreneur must grasp. The concept of scaling isn't just limited to how many products you can produce or how many services you can deliver; it also applies to personal growth and the ability to adapt and handle more complex tasks and responsibilities.

The truth of this reality is even more stark for those who, like me, have multiple roles to juggle outside of their professional life. As a parent of young children, an engaged husband and partner, and an individual who values self-care and personal relationships, I'm continually navigating the intricacies of balancing all these components. It becomes a dynamic dance of business building, parenting, maintaining a nurturing relationship with my spouse, and taking self-care seriously, which includes spending time with family and friends, maintaining good health, and pursuing things that bring joy.

In the past, I made the mistake of deprioritizing these aspects of my life, pushing them to the back burner to focus solely on my professional pursuits. This imbalance, unfortunately, led to burnout each time, an experience that provided me with valuable lessons about the importance of a balanced approach to life and work.

Now, when I start to see signs of strain, when the cracks start to show in the system, I use a simple acronym that I've developed over years of scaling tech companies.

I call it L.E.A.D.E.R.

1. List all the things you do: This is about gaining clarity and perspective on all the tasks and responsibilities that demand your time and attention.

2. Eliminate anything you don’t actually need: This step involves critically evaluating what is essential and what is not, helping to minimize unnecessary tasks or activities that may be adding to your stress.

3. Automate what can be, so it just happens: Use technology to your advantage to automate repetitive tasks. This frees up your time to focus on tasks that require your expertise and personal touch.

4. Delegate things you don’t have to do personally: Understand that you don't have to do everything yourself. Delegate tasks to others who have the skills and capacity to handle them. This helps in distributing the workload and fosters a sense of teamwork and collaboration.

5. Experience everything that remains to grow, learn, and live: Take the time to fully engage with the tasks that are left. These tasks are likely the ones that will provide opportunities for personal growth and learning.

6. Repeat when life starts to get overwhelming again: This isn't a one-time fix but a continual process of evaluation and adjustment. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, return to this process and adjust as necessary.

Yes, implementing this approach may result in additional expenses, particularly in the case of automation and delegation.

However, it also creates space for you to engage in activities that truly matter to you. More importantly, it helps you reclaim your most valuable and non-replenishing resource - time.

By investing in these areas, you're setting the stage for a more sustainable, balanced, and satisfying life and work experience.