“Time collapses when something you think takes 100 steps takes only one.” That’s just one of many gems from this week’s guest, Richie Norton. Richie is teaching us how to optimize for time flow and cash flow; to act from our future, not toward it. As he says, “It’s time to rescue your meta-goal from the ledge of your long-distance timeline and bring it home by placing it directly at the center of your life.”

As I ask in the introduction to Free Time: What revenue streams are in that oh-so-sweet spot of profit, ease, and joy in your business? Recurring revenue is one of the holy grails within a sustainable, scalable business. It’s an area that I have focused intently on since 2015, so in a follow-up to episode 112: My 3 Biggest Business Regrets, today I’m sharing more about the recurring income streams in my business.

Take it from a self-described “recovering micromanager,” Annie Hyman Pratt: people are the most underleveraged, underutilized asset you have in your business. And once you see it, she says, you won’t be able to unsee it.

Is your to-do list piled to the sky with uninspiring tasks? Wait until you hear this listener submission from Leanne, sharing one of many favorite gems from participating in mastermind groups and 1:1 coaching with the legendary “Million Dollar Consultant” Alan Weiss.

“Why would someone fly you across the world to do business with them?” That powerful question from a mentor in March 2020 gave today’s guest, Marquis Murray, the courage to go all-in on his passion of helping business owners create order from chaos through greater operational efficiency.

Living in New York City for over a decade, I’ve woken up to many a strange sight over the years: sirens, helicopters overhead, a pre-dawn police chase through the backyard, and a drone buzzing where the birds should be. But never have I woken up to someone doing their job with such delight (who also happened to be smokin’ hot and shirtless) that he drew out fellow neighbors to stand at attention in their windowsills, with coffee mugs in hand, also chatting him up and taking in the view. Today’s episode takes a page out of this memorable man’s customer delight handbook. Daymaker: wherever you are, thank you.

Do you shy away from marketing and metrics, or have trouble figuring out more of your ideal clients? If so, this conversation will give you just the boost you need!

Join me and longtime friendtor Pamela Slim (the one who gave me the courage and encouragement to leave my comfy corporate life back in 2011) as we discuss shifting out of empire culture toward ecosystem culture, identifying watering holes for your ideal community members, working with “PB&J partners,” being the weirdo in the room, and prioritizing outreach even if you’re introverted.

“If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.” That’s a gem I found in MBS’s book, How to Begin, from Body Shop founder Anita Roddick. It came to mind last night while I was being plagued by a particularly elusive mosquito my husband dubbed “Maverick.” (Yes, after the Tom Cruise movie.) In my sleep-deprived madness (and MAD-ness) I decided to search for the meaning—and the business metaphor—behind this tiny but pernicious little beast.

We talk about The Fiji Test often here at Free Time HQ on documentation and making ourselves replaceable every day. The central question: Could a stranger to the business take over without much disruption?

That’s exactly what Shannon Minifie and longtime friendtor MBS put to the test several years ago. As he stepped aside as CEO of the company he’d been building for nearly 20 years, Box of Crayons, Shannon took the reins through a two-year transition process. If you haven’t listened yet, be sure to pair this with episode 051: How to Replace Yourself as CEO with MBS.