From Grind to Growth: The Shift Every Service Business Owner Needs
Estimated Read Time: 4 mins
I have been the queen of grinding; so much so that it’s not only a badge of honor that I wear, it’s now embedded in my DNA. I’ve had to do a lot of work to unpack the behaviors and mindsets that would have me show up in constant hustle mode, so that I’m actually productive and not just busy. And while hustle certainly has its place, grind alone doesn’t guarantee growth. The critical question is where do you invest that hard work? As a plant momma I know that watering an entire garden indiscriminately might keep the weeds alive—but focusing on the healthiest plants yields the best harvest.
High-Value Activities: Why They’re the Growth Catalyst
In our last blog, we explored the Energy Economy—how to harness your time, talent, and team effectively. Now, it’s time to apply that (soon-to-be) freed-up capacity to activities that truly drive revenue and scalability: high-value activities.
High-value activities aren't just important tasks—they're the transformative actions that directly contribute to your business's growth, profitability, and scalability. These activities create exponential returns rather than just incremental progress.
Let's break down what makes an activity truly "high-value":
Leveraged Impact: It affects multiple areas of your business simultaneously
Sustainable Results: It continues generating value long after the initial effort
Scalable Potential: It works increasingly well as your business grows
Strategic Alignment: It directly supports your core business objectives
The Value Equation: Fueling Growth Internally and Externally
When deciding which tasks deserve your effort, a powerful lens is Alex Hormozi’s Value Equation, which breaks down value into this formula:
Value = (Dream Outcome + Perceived Likelihood of Achievement)
/ (Time to Achieve + Effort Required)
Dream Outcome: What is the significant, transformative goal for your business? (e.g., doubling recurring revenue or scaling into a new market)
Perceived Likelihood: How confident are you—and your team—that these outcomes are attainable?
Time & Effort: How long and how hard will it realistically be to get there?
Use this equation internally to filter your to-do list. High-value activities reduce the time and effort needed to reach your dream outcome while boosting the likelihood of success. This same principle applies externally—whether you’re improving client retention or attracting new customers, aligning to their dream outcomes with fewer obstacles creates extraordinary value.
Example: Instead of grinding out 50 cold calls a day, investing in a client retention system may deliver a far greater return. You shorten the time and effort needed to maintain revenue (the dream outcome), while boosting client satisfaction (and your perceived likelihood of success).
You could also remix the value equation like so:
Value = (Needs × Solutions) ÷ Barriers
Needs: What are your business's most critical growth requirements?
Solutions: Which activities directly address these needs with sustainable solutions?
Barriers: What obstacles currently diminish the impact of these activities?
By maximizing the numerator (Needs × Solutions) and minimizing the denominator (Barriers), you dramatically increase the value of your activities—and subsequently, your business.
I’m providing 2 variations of essentially the same equation to support those who appreciate thinking about things from multiple perspectives. Try them both out–if you’d like–and see what results they each produce in your brainstorming process.
The Growth Mindset Shift
Business leaders who successfully position their companies for growth share three essential qualities:
Intentionality: They make deliberate choices about where to direct their energy
Focus: They concentrate on activities with the highest leverage potential
Alignment: Their daily actions directly support their long-term business vision
This mindset transforms grinding into strategic growth—where your effort generates maximum impact rather than just motion.
Making the Shift: Practical Steps
Review Your Current Tasks
Look at where you’re grinding the most. Do these tasks measurably grow revenue or strengthen your client relationships? If not, it’s time to pivot.Apply the Value Equation
Score your activities by asking: “Does this bring us closer to our dream outcome, and do we have a high chance of success? Is the time or effort too high for the result?”Refine Your Focus
Commit to the top two or three high-value activities. Delegate or eliminate everything else. By concentrating your energy here, you’ll see exponential gains rather than linear progress.
High-Value Activity Mapping: Your Next Tool
Ready to pin down which tasks truly drive growth? Grab our High-Value Activity Mapping exercise. This quick resource helps you rank your current tasks against the Value Equation, so you can clearly see which ones deserve your focus.
In our 3-Day Revenue Strategy Solution, we walk you step by step through applying the Value Equation to your unique business model—empowering you to work strategically while delivering top-tier results for your clients.
The Freedom of Growth-Focused Work
It’s easy to believe that more hours equal more results—but long hours don't come with a "results guarantee"! That's why focusing on what actually grows your bottom line is so important. It doesn’t just protect your energy—it liberates you to lead your business with clarity and confidence.
Up Next: In our next blog, “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: Reframing Growth for Your Next Stage,” we’ll show you how to build the systems that sustain momentum and pave the way for truly scalable growth. Because when you channel your grind into the right areas, your business finally works for you—not the other way around.
