Entrepreneurship, typically associated with constant hustle, long hours, and sleepless nights, tends to be glorified. Many people actually believe that pushing themselves to the limit every single day is what it needs for an entrepreneur to be successful.

Here's a thought: notwithstanding the fact that working hard has its place, there may be a way to achieve business success while preserving mental health and maintaining personal relationships.

How is this art to be perfected, though?

The recipe is simple: hustle smarter, not harder. But how to get started?

Building a Smarter Business

Using an entrepreneurial operation system (EOS) can be a good starting point. It takes care of delegation and automation, and helps entrepreneurs streamline tasks. Such a system allows entrepreneurs to focus on strategy, growth, and vision instead of getting caught up in repetitive tasks.

One success story comes from Basecamp, a project management software company founded by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. Basecamp's founders advocate for a simple approach to business. They reject the notion of relentless hustle and point out that focusing on a streamlined, deliberate approach to building a business is key to success.

Building the Right Mindset

The psychology behind entrepreneurship is a mindset that helps entrepreneurs identify opportunities, take calculated risks, and work through inevitable challenges. To build it, one needs to possess a degree of awareness about their limits, energy, and mental health.

In simple terms, it's about developing the resilience and strategic thinking needed to succeed in the long run rather than about working harder. This is the most difficult part to master, too. Namely, many entrepreneurs start to identify effort with success over time.

Such an approach inevitably leads to overwork, burnout, and an inability to think strategically. Long-term success doesn't come from relentless work alone; it is highly reliant on the right tools, systems, and strategies that make the work efficient and manageable.

The founder of VaynerMedia Gary Vaynerchuk says that “it's not about how much you work; it's about how smart you work. There's a massive difference.”

Strategic Delegation

An important element of hustling smarter is understanding that the entrepreneur doesn't have to do it all themselves. It's literally impossible to achieve sustainable growth when one person is doing everything. In other words, delegation plays a massive role in entrepreneurship.

The founder of the Virgin Group Richard Branson is a solid example of this practice. He has built an empire by empowering his teams to take charge of various aspects of the business. Branson once said, “Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming.”

However, it's important to keep in mind that strategic delegation isn't about offloading tasks. Rather, it's an approach that recognizes the strengths of all team members and empowers them to perform at their best. This approach has two chief benefits: firstly, it drives business growth and, secondly, it promotes a sense of ownership.

The story of the social media management platform Buffer provides another illustrative example of how effective delegation leads to success. Buffer's founder Joel Gascoigne made delegation a core part of his business strategy from day one. He hired a small, highly skilled team and gave them autonomy over their work. In this way, he managed to scale quickly without burning out. Gascoigne believes that “a great team is the secret ingredient to success.”

Reducing Stress

Entrepreneurs often find themselves overwhelmed by repetitive tasks that take up valuable time and mental energy. That's why automation plays a critical part in entrepreneurship. Automating routine processes reduces the mental load of managing a business and ensures that operations run smoothly without requiring constant supervision.

One glaringly obvious example of where this practice gets to shine is marketing. A robust email marketing automation system can help businesses build relationships with customers without having to write individual emails or follow up on every lead. Similarly, tools like Zapier allow for automating workflows across different applications.

Shopify is a perfect example of how this practice can make or break a business. Scilicet, Shopify merchants can automate everything from inventory management to customer communication. Entrepreneurs using Shopify can focus on growing their businesses without getting tangled in manual tasks.

Automation can help other areas of business operations in a similar fashion. E.g., many entrepreneurs use software to manage their finances, track expenses, and generate reports. These mundane tasks can be completed in mere minutes while they would otherwise take considerable time.

Leveraging Networks for Expansion

Another powerful way to hustle smarter is by leveraging networks. Networks can provide resources, expertise, and opportunities that may be difficult to access otherwise. Entrepreneurs who surround themselves with the right people and tap into their knowledge and experience can scale their businesses more easily.

Take the example of the founder of FUBU Daymond John. He has built his entire career on networking. John says, “The best thing I did was surround myself with people who were smarter than me.” He built a network of industry experts, investors, and partners and was able to expand his business quickly and efficiently.

Say Farewell to Burnout

Evidently, entrepreneurship doesn't have to be a never-ending hustle. We've mentioned some examples of how it can become enjoyable and successful. Consider using EOS, delegate strategically, automate where possible, and leverage the power of networks.

The whole process revolves around the idea of working smarter, not harder. Success doesn't require sacrificing one's health, relationships, or sanity. The key to long-term success is finding a balance between effort and efficiency.