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Building and growing a successful business is often portrayed as a relentless hustle, a never-ending grind where entrepreneurs pour every waking hour into their venture. However, Jordan Tate, a lifestyle-oriented business coach with deep experience as a CEO and entrepreneur, offers a refreshing and transformative perspective on business coaching and growth. His approach centers on working smarter, not harder, helping business owners escape the exhausting cycle of overwork to grow their business while working less and living more.
In this article, we dive deep into Jordan’s philosophy and practical advice, distilled into nine powerful lessons that every business owner and aspiring leader can apply. From overcoming common growth hurdles to hiring strategies, setting boundaries, and cultivating a purposeful workplace culture, these lessons provide a roadmap to sustainable success.
1. Letting Go of Control Is the First Big Step to Business Growth
One of the earliest and most common barriers business owners face is the challenge of letting go of doing everything themselves. Jordan shares that the moment entrepreneurs hire their first employee or expand to a small team, they encounter a significant hurdle: trusting others with important parts of the business.
Many owners struggle with relinquishing control because they fear others won’t meet their high standards or care as deeply about the business. However, Jordan emphasizes that this mindset is a brake on growth. The fastest-growing businesses are those where owners embrace delegation, even if the quality isn’t initially perfect.
He explains, “Of course, they will not be as good as you are because it’s just another person, and they won’t have the same love and care for your business because they’re a different person. But that is the way to scale and to grow.”
By hiring support staff like marketers, administrators, or finance experts, you free yourself to focus on the parts of the business that you love and excel at. This shift transforms your role and business trajectory.
2. Work Less, But Work Smarter: Set Boundaries Around Your Time
Entrepreneurs often fall into the trap of equating long hours with success. Jordan is a strong advocate for setting intentional boundaries on work hours to maximize effectiveness and maintain balance. He himself works fewer than 35 hours a week while taking two months of annual vacation—proof that sustainable success is possible.
One practical boundary Jordan shares is ending work after 5 PM to prioritize family and personal life. He advises, “If someone is screaming and yelling like the world is ending, maybe I’ll pick up. Otherwise, it can wait until tomorrow.”
This simple but powerful mindset fosters prioritization, reduces burnout, and helps entrepreneurs focus on high-impact activities during their limited working hours.
Jordan highlights the finite nature of time: “If you want to work 40 hours a week, that’s only 160 hours a month to invest in growing your business, whether you’re doing $100K, $1M, or $100M.” Every hour becomes incredibly valuable, so spending time on low-impact tasks is a costly mistake.
3. Hire to Buy Back Your Time or Fill Skill Gaps
Hiring is not just about adding headcount but a strategic tool to reclaim your time and strengthen weak areas. Jordan explains two essential reasons to hire in the early stages:
- Buy back your time: Hire people to take over tasks that consume your hours so you can focus on growth and strategy.
- Fill skill gaps: Bring in expertise where you lack skills, such as accounting, marketing, or operations.
Jordan candidly shares his own hiring mistake of seeking people similar to himself, which only amplified existing problems. Instead, he recommends hiring complementary skills, even if the new hire’s personality or style differs from yours.
Before hiring, consider what you can offer to attract high performers. Jordan stresses the mindset shift from “What do I need from an employee?” to “What does the employee need from me?”
4. Create Purpose and Progress to Attract and Retain Great Employees
Beyond salary and perks, employees seek meaning and growth in their work. Jordan explains that people want two fundamental things:
- Purpose: Feeling that their work matters and makes a difference to the company or clients.
- Progress: Opportunities for growth, learning, and advancement.
Even in jobs traditionally seen as “dirty work” like cleaning or junk removal, employees find purpose in helping clients improve their lives. Jordan encourages business owners to consistently communicate the impact of every role, no matter how small it may seem.
This focus on purpose and progress builds a strong company culture that attracts top talent and reduces turnover.
5. Address Performance Issues with Empathy and Clear Communication
Firing employees is one of the toughest challenges for business owners. Jordan recommends a thoughtful approach that starts with honest conversations rather than immediate termination.
Begin by discussing observed changes in performance or behavior, such as lateness or missed deadlines, with empathy. Ask open-ended questions to understand underlying causes like personal struggles or loss of motivation.
Offer support and set short-term goals or performance plans to help the employee improve. Follow up after a month or two to assess progress.
If improvement doesn’t occur, then have a clear conversation about the need for a better fit. Jordan points out that sometimes employees stay in jobs they dislike simply because quitting is hard, much like staying in a bad relationship.
6. Use Strategy Instead of Effort to Scale Your Business
Many entrepreneurs believe the only way to grow is to put in more hours and effort, but Jordan advocates for a strategic approach. Once you have some traction, it’s about focusing on the few activities that truly move the needle.
He shares a simple example: instead of chasing new clients with expensive marketing tactics, why not ask your current clients for referrals? This targeted strategy can often produce better results with less effort.
Developing a clear growth strategy involves stepping back from daily tasks to plan six months to a year ahead. Consider what systems, team members, and processes are needed to reach your goals.
Jordan recommends quarterly strategy reviews to reassess what’s working and adjust your focus accordingly.
7. Work on Your Business, Not Just in It
Entrepreneurs frequently get trapped doing urgent maintenance work that keeps the business running but doesn’t drive growth. Jordan highlights the importance of dedicating time to strategic planning and future-focused activities.
He hears this common refrain: “I’m stuck working in my business, not on it.” The difference is crucial. Working in the business involves handling day-to-day tasks; working on the business means setting direction, refining systems, and planning growth.
Having a coach or mentor can be invaluable here. Jordan explains that external support provides perspective, challenges assumptions, and helps create effective plans—something very difficult to do alone.
8. Beware the Hustle Culture: Sustainable Growth Beats Burnout
In today’s business world, the hustle and grind mentality is glorified, especially by influencers who share stories of working 12+ hour days, 7 days a week. Jordan is clear that this lifestyle is toxic for most people and unsustainable in the long run.
He points out that many high-profile entrepreneurs who promote relentless work schedules sacrifice relationships, health, and joy. The flashy success doesn’t always equal happiness or fulfillment.
Jordan encourages business owners to find a sustainable pace they can maintain for years, not just months. He asks a powerful question: “If you had to work the exact same way for the next five or ten years, could you do that without burning out?”
Working less but more intentionally can actually accelerate progress by preserving energy and creativity over time.
9. Recommended Books to Transform Your Business and Life
Jordan shares two books that profoundly influenced his mindset and approach to business coaching:
- Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman – This book reframes our relationship with time, emphasizing the finite nature of life and encouraging us to live intentionally rather than chasing impossible productivity goals.
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown – Essentialism teaches the power of focusing on a few vital priorities rather than spreading yourself thin across many tasks, helping to create deep progress in the most important areas.
These books help business owners prioritize what truly matters—not just in business but in personal life—such as relationships and health.
Final Recommendation
Jordan Tate’s approach to business coaching is a breath of fresh air in a world obsessed with hustle and rapid scaling. His lessons emphasize the power of intentionality, balance, and smart strategy over sheer effort. By letting go of control, setting clear boundaries, hiring thoughtfully, and focusing on purpose and progress, business owners can build thriving businesses that fuel their ideal lifestyles—not consume them.
Remember, success is not about working harder or longer but about having the courage to continue with clarity, focus, and sustainability. As Winston Churchill said,
“Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Embrace these nine lessons to transform your business growth journey and enjoy the freedom and fulfillment you set out to achieve.
For more insights on business coaching and growth, connect with Jordan Tate on LinkedIn or visit his website at theintentionalbusiness.ca.
Watch the full podcast here: Letting go of work is the start to your business growth | Jordan Tait | DoneMaker Podcast
FAQ: Business Coaching and Sustainable Growth
The right time is when you start hitting growth ceilings and can no longer handle all tasks alone. Focus on hiring to buy back your time or fill skill gaps that limit growth. Early hires should help you reclaim 10-30 hours weekly or bring expertise you lack.
Communicate the purpose and impact of each role clearly. Help employees see how their work benefits clients and the business. Promote growth opportunities and celebrate progress to foster engagement and loyalty.
Set clear work hour boundaries, delegate effectively, and focus on a few high-impact growth activities. Use strategic planning to prioritize efforts and avoid trying to do everything at once. Working sustainably over time leads to better long-term results
If you feel stuck working in your business rather than on it, or if you struggle to create effective growth strategies alone, a coach can provide valuable guidance, accountability, and experience-based insights to accelerate progress.
Seek a coach who has experience in your industry or business stage and whose values align with yours. Look for someone who challenges your assumptions, helps clarify priorities, and supports sustainable growth strategies.
