Great CEOs Are Lazy by Jim Schleckser Jimschleckser.com Theceoproject.com How do the really exceptional CEOs get more done in less time than everyone else? What is their technique for getting their work done while still having the time to spend pursuing hobbies and spending quality time with their friends and family? The truth is that great and lazy CEOs know a secret when it comes to time management. Rather than spending a little time on a lot of things, the best CEOs spend most of their time eliminating the single biggest constraint to the growth of their business. They spend a lot of time diagnosing this constraint before taking action. This process is similar to looking for the kink in a garden hose so you can get the flow going again. These is no use trying to unkink the hose until you find the actual problem. Depending on the nature of the constraint, they engage in fixing the kink in the hose using one of five different roles the Learner Architect Coach Engineer Player These form the archetype for great leadership. These are all high leverage roles that create a permanent improvement in the business. This insight isn't just some theory either; it s derived directly from working with thousands of CEOs running high growth companies. The trick to being great and lazy is to only work at the point of constraint and avoid all work that doesn't increase organizational capacity. Lazy CEOs have a series of well developed tools to properly avoid this non-value work. I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it. -Bill Gates. So, do you want to keep working hard? Or would you rather get busy being lazy? About the author Jim Schleckser is a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers, has an Advanced certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, and is a businessperson with 30 years of professional drinking experience. As the CEO of the Inc. CEO Project, a firm that offers coaching and advising to CEOs of fast-growth companies, he has entertained business associates around the world. Jim Schleckser is the author of the best selling book, “Great CEOs are Lazy”, detailing the behaviors that make the difference in CEO performance. With 30 years of leadership in business, he brings experience in leading global organizations in both public and private environments across many functional areas to the table. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time, and National Public Radio. His ideas have been translated into 9 languages and he has done business in over 26 countries. He is committed to helping professionals navigate wine, while keeping it fun. He has a popular blog that speaks to the same topics as this book at professionaldrinking.com, where you can learn more, including about hiring him as a speaker for your event. He is a soccer player, prolific reader and outdoorsman. He resides in Potomac, Maryland.