Why I Stopped Checking Email (and built a $200M business instead)
I used to think that being a great CEO meant always being available.
Every morning, I’d dive into my inbox - answering one email after another - until my entire morning was gone. I was reacting to every update instead of steering the ship.
Then one day, an investor asked me a question that cut through all the noise:
“What percent of your day do you spend thinking about where this business is going?”
We were at $50M ARR, but that question stopped me cold. Growth was consuming me, not the other way around.
I realized I was chasing external validation - driven by a fear of losing control and of letting down my employees, investors... even myself.
I was stuck in reactive mode, building for metrics instead of meaning.
Here's what I've learned building three businesses to $200M: The more available you are, the less your business scales.
Aligning My Energy with My Values
That wake-up call forced me to confront a harsh truth: I was building my company on fear. I was letting the pressure for external approval dictate my every move.
I did what most CEOs avoid. I got honest about my values. I mapped what truly mattered, not what looked good on paper.
I sat down, and took a long, hard look at what mattered most. I listed my core values: freedom, authenticity, and continuous learning.
Then, I defined my anti-values: the things I wouldn't tolerate.
This wasn’t a feel-good exercise; it became my north star.
Values-aligned actions do more than feel right. They build stronger teams and create systems that amplify your natural strengths.
The Real Cost of Being “Always Available”
Our obsession with our inboxes isn’t really about responsiveness - it’s about control.
Every time I checked my email, I got a fleeting hit of “I’ve got this.” But that sense of control was an illusion.
A founder I coached checked emails throughout dinner, telling his fiancée, 'What if something comes up?'
Here's the brutal truth: nothing ever did. People have the miraculous ability to solve problems they don't have. CEOs are no exception.
Once I aligned my values, I saw that every minute spent on emails or small problems took away from guiding the company toward its real vision.
The real cost of distractions isn't measured in minutes. It's measured in missed opportunities.
Each interruption drains your most valuable asset - the energy to build something great.
Breaking Free: A Framework That Works
Here’s the framework I developed to break free from the trap of constant availability:
Identify Your Triggers: Think about your most drained days. What pulled you off course? Those quick email checks and Slack notifications? They're not harmless. They compound into hours of lost focus.
Face Your Attachment: Each inbox check fills a void. Name it. This isn't about efficiency - it's about control. And that control is an illusion.
Ask yourself: What's driving your need to stay connected? Is it moving your business forward or just feeding the illusion of progress?Replace With Purpose: Imagine channeling that energy into your unique strengths - your Zone of Genius. Commit to replacing reactive habits with deliberate, strategic actions.
What would your business look like if you dedicated your mornings to big-picture thinking?
Building Your Zone of Genius
Your Zone of Genius is where you do the work only you can do. Without structure, it gets stolen by insignificant tasks masquerading as priorities. I learned this the hard way.
Here’s how to create that sacred space:
Environment: Create your deep work sanctuary. No email. No Slack. No exceptions. Pick a space where your best thinking happens.
Time: Time: Block 2-3 hours for strategy. Your million-dollar ideas don't come from five-minute sprints. Schedule this when your mind is sharpest.
Ritual: Build your signal for deep work. Mine's a morning walk. Find yours. Use it religiously.
Protection: Protection: Make these blocks non-negotiable. Tell your team you're unreachable. When they honor this time, you'll start honoring it too.
This sacred space is where empires are built.
It's where you wrestle with the questions that define your future: Where are we heading? What opportunities are hiding in plain sight? What bold moves will get us there first?"
Putting It All Together
The biggest lie in entrepreneurship is that success demands constant availability.
The truth is that scale comes from strategic thinking, not reactive doing.
Your energy, not your time, is your most precious resource. Protect it ruthlessly. Every minute you spend chasing emails is a minute stolen from your vision.
Here's your challenge:
Reclaim your day. Map what pulls you into reactive mode. Then face the truth about why these distractions feel so comfortable.
How are you fighting the pull of constant availability? Hit reply and let me know, I read every message.
To scaling with clarity - see you next week! 👑
Looking For More In-Depth Help?
Here's four ways I can help you:
⚫️ The 20 Hour CEO: Two-week live cohort where you'll learn how to scale yourself and your business, with 1:1 coaching from me. I share my exact methods, playbooks, and actionable strategies for building 3 businesses to $200M. Limited spots - join waitlist.
⚫️ The 20 Hour CEO Video Course: Created for greater accessibility, this is the exact same course without the 1:1 coaching or community. You'll get instant access to all the video replays, templates, frameworks, and playbooks included in the live course.
⚫️ Delegation Mastery: Learn how to make delegating your superpower. Master how to work with an executive assistant to create leverage in both your business and personal life. You’ll get instant access to my systems, templates, and frameworks to become a delegating Jedi.
⚫️ CEO Coaching: Private coaching for early and growth-stage entrepreneurs who want to lead more effectively while increasing their resiliency. See if we're a good fit here.