Ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels in your business—working hard but never quite gaining traction on the big stuff?
If you’ve ever said, “I just don’t have time for that project” or caught yourself stuck in procrastination mode, today’s episode is going to change the game.
I’m joined by productivity expert Julie Miller Davis, who helps high-achieving business owners break through overwhelm and finally get the important things done.
We’re talking about:
- The real reason business growth gets stuck
- How to make space for big projects (even in a packed week)
- A simple way to beat procrastination and focus on what moves the needle
Let’s Recap: Why Business Owners Really Stall
The Pressure to Do More
Most owners don’t stall because they lack ideas; they stall because their days get consumed by reactive tasks and scattered focus. The hard truth is that we often become our own bottleneck by clinging to everything, letting other people’s agendas run our calendar, and waiting for large open blocks of time that never appear. The solution begins with intention and structure.
The Power of Delegation
Delegation isn’t an all-or-nothing leap; it’s a series of small, smart handoffs that free up your attention for the work only you can do. A simple rule helps: if someone can do it 80 percent as well as you, it’s ready to delegate. Even better, let them manage 80 percent of a task while you keep the final 20 percent for quality, voice, or oversight. This compromise preserves standards and returns hours to strategy, creation, and sales.
Why Big Projects Fall Apart
Big projects fail when we treat them as massive, monolithic efforts requiring a free week and a burst of heroic energy. Businesses have moving parts; the inbox won’t pause for your launch. Reverse chunking solves this by taking reverse engineering a step further.
Reverse Chunking for Real Progress
Start with a clear deadline for the overall outcome. Break the work into discrete steps, then give each step its own deadline. Block calendar time for each step before the week fills up. Plans should flex—some steps overrun, others finish early—but the scheduled cadence keeps momentum alive. Mini deadlines act like mile markers: they show progress, prevent overwhelm, and force prioritization. When you can see the next small finish line, your brain resists less and you actually start.
Beating Procrastination with Momentum
Procrastination isn’t laziness; it’s friction. Lower that friction with the “one thing” rule: when stuck, ask, If I could do just one thing to move this forward today, what would it be? Do that one thing, and let momentum carry you to the next. Pair this with tiny wins—small, meaningful rewards you only unlock after engaging the hard task. These cues retrain your brain to associate effort with satisfaction.
Protect Your Best Brainpower
Stack the deck in your favor by doing hard things first while your willpower is high. Most people have peak focus in the morning, so protect that window for priority work and push low-stakes tasks to later.
Stop the Focus Leaks
Focus leaks through constant task switching. Track one week of your time and be brutally honest about interruptions, app hopping, and “just a quick” check. Many discover that 20 minutes of every hour disappears to distraction, adding up to a lost workday every week.
Build Intentional Structure
Batch similar tasks, silence notifications during deep-work blocks, and set boundaries with yourself and your team. Urgent is often loud, not important.
A Five-Minute Daily Planner That Works
To keep your days aligned, use a five-minute daily planner next to your calendar. Brain dump today’s demands, choose your Big Three that only you can do, and assign them to times on the clock. Include non-negotiables and a small “awesome stuff” box for wins you’d otherwise overlook. Five quiet minutes to choose on purpose beats eight frantic hours on autopilot.
Connect with Julie Miller Davis
Julie Miller Davis is a driven entrepreneur who serves others by helping them reach their own levels of excellence. She works with business owners and leaders to get them laser-focused and efficient at conducting their daily business and working through their current roadblocks.
Facebook: Facebook.com/juliemillerdavis15/
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/juliemillerdavis
Instagram: Instagram.com/jmdproductivity
Website: juliemillerdavis.com
Grab her Daily Productivity Planner and see how 5 minutes a day can help you prioritize and get the right things done! –> https://juliemillerdavis.com/daily-productivity-planner/
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