As an entrepreneur, you have that gadget, habit, app or a book that makes your work easier, motivates you to do more and that’s what we refer to as a CEO Hack.

1. 28 Entrepreneurs
Explain the CEO
Hack That Makes
Them Successful

2. As an entrepreneur, you have that gadget, habit, app or
a book that makes your work easier, motivates you to
do more and that’s what we refer to as a CEO Hack. It
helps you achieve maximum productivity and stick to
your goals regardless of the hurdles we face as
entrepreneurs. For instance, it could be a pro tip on
managing employees to make the workplace a
conducive environment for everyone. Maybe it’s an app
that you have which helps you plan and execute tasks
on time. It could also be a book that you read and it
brings ideas your way on how to scale your business.
The list goes on. You can check our CEO Hacks and
different entrepreneurs’ CEO Hacks below where we
have insightful responses.

3. #1- Engaging in creative marketing
The reason we’ve reached our level of success is
because we like to deliver experiences along with our
products. One of our opening activations was, if a
customer spent enough money on alcohol in-app, we
sent a bartender out to their home to make drinks for
them for an hour. Marketing is the best investment you
can make when starting a business, and the more
inventive you are with it, you’ll see a customer base
come in fast.

4. #2- Checking out the competitor’s websites
I have a habit of always checking out the competitor’s
websites. I like to do so to see what they’re doing to be
successful that our company may be missing. Whether
it’s a more user-friendly website or a new social media
strategy they’ve implemented, successful CEO’s can
always take a tip or two from others in their industry.

5. #3- Morning Pages
I'd consider myself a productivity junkie and have tried
dozens of different techniques (ie, Inbox Zero, Getting
Things Done, Eisenhower Decision Matrix, etc.) but few
have made as big of a difference in my professional and
personal life as Morning Pages. Morning Pages is a
technique invented by Julia Cameron Live and
described in her book The Artist's Way to help unlock
people's creativity. The premise is quite simple: write 3
pages per day, no matter how long it takes, and do this
daily. What I've noticed is that not only do some of my
most lucid and creative thoughts come out during that
time, but I'm also more clear, focused and present for
the remainder of the day!

6. #4- The Lean Startup
The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use
Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful
Businesses by Eric Ries has been key for driving how we
organize our operations to fight the market uncertainty
of an early-stage startup. Ries gives great advice when
it comes to starting your own business. He makes you
feel more confident in your decision-making and it's a
great guide for any new entrepreneurs entering the
field.

7. #6- Teams
Teams to collaborate with my employees. Especially
while working remote, this software has been the
perfect tool to keep our momentum going. We can
share files easily, chat instantly, and collaborate on
projects effortlessly. I think this software is what has
given us continued success and I’d recommend anyone
entering the business world to utilize this as much as
possible.

8. #7- Jogging
Every morning I wake up very early and go out for a
quick jog. It helps me wake up but also collect my
thoughts and reflect on the previous day. Over the
years I have learnt that self-reflection is necessary for
identifying your weak spots and figuring out how to
improve them. Since my schedule is rather packed, the
only time I can focus on myself is early morning when
everybody else is still sleeping and the streets are
quiet. Another benefit of jogging in the morning is the
energy level I have at work. Working out helps me
shake my muscles and prepare myself for a long day at
the office. I sometimes spend 12 hours sitting behind a
desk which is why I absolutely need my active morning
routine.

9. #7- Jogging
Every morning I wake up very early and go out for a
quick jog. It helps me wake up but also collect my
thoughts and reflect on the previous day. Over the
years I have learnt that self-reflection is necessary for
identifying your weak spots and figuring out how to
improve them. Since my schedule is rather packed, the
only time I can focus on myself is early morning when
everybody else is still sleeping and the streets are
quiet. Another benefit of jogging in the morning is the
energy level I have at work. Working out helps me
shake my muscles and prepare myself for a long day at
the office. I sometimes spend 12 hours sitting behind a
desk which is why I absolutely need my active morning
routine.

10. #8- Delegation
It's actually something that I struggled with for a VERY
long time and something that held back my own
personal success for almost a decade. I had the classic
gung ho and I can do it all mindset and it took me an
eternity to realize that my lack of delegation and
recruiting was killing the growth of each and every
business I started. When I started delegating, I started
dominating, so that has to be my #1 CEO hack.

11. #9- Single-tasking
As a CEO, I find it critical to get the most out of my
hours. In the beginning, I used to multitask quite often.
I thought that I was saving more time by doing so, but
that wasn't the case. After I started doing one task at a
time, my focus got better, and so did the job done. I
realized that one hour of work dedicated to a single
assignment is more valuable than three hours of
multitasking. The world we live in is obsessed with
getting more things done, and our attention span is
getting alarmingly low. With single-tasking, it can be a
bit difficult for you to focus on one thing only for a
more extended period. However, you will see that it is
far less stressful and more productive in the long run.

12. #10- Repurposing content
For me and my clients I have been successful
repurposing content by: Turning a series of articles,
blog postings or newsletters into a book or ebook.
Turning each chapter of a book/e-book into a series of
articles, blog postings or newsletters. Turning every
piece of content into a tweet. Share links to the content
on all your social media platforms. Finding like-minded
groups with a newsletter or website to do a swap and
share content with each other¹s audiences. I have also
turned articles into infographics and talks that have
been videod that I have been able to share over social
media and on my site. Once you have a piece you are
happy with it makes a lot of sense to get as much
mileage out of it as possible.

13. #11- Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)
The biggest game-changer for me was finding a system
that I could use to manage the day-to-day of my
business and still innovate within it. I was introduced to
the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) in EOS
Traction by Gino Wickman. It walked through the six
main components of high functioning organizations,
the philosophy behind them and how to execute on
each piece. The suite of books also helped me identify,
and lean into, my God given talents instead of getting
bogged down in the daily minutiae.

14. It was so impactful, I almost immediately hired an EOS
Implementor and rolled it out to our entire
organization. Since that roll out, we redefined our goals
and mission, restructured our team from the ground up
and created clear systems of communication for every
member of our organization. The biggest difference
personally, is that I've embraced the role of innovator
and let go of some of the things I once felt pressure to
hold onto.

15. #12- 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
I always go back to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective
People by Stephen R. Covey. It's a business classic, and
even though it was written before the age of smart
devices, I love the concept of mapping out long-term
goals and planning our weeks and days to fulfill those
goals. It's true that you will be most effective if you are
a master of your time and priorities. It's also important
to remember that success is not only defined by our
business profits.

16. #13- True Open Door Policy
Open Door Policy. They say come see me with any
problem you have. But what if you are the problem?
What if you are making mistakes? A true open-door
policy is one that allows employees to point out your
short-comings and when you are being detrimental to
the success of the organization. I have always created a
culture where everyone feels comfortable to point out
when I am wrong, in fact, I encourage it. I would much
rather someone tell me when I am about to steer into
an iceberg rather than sink to the bottom.

17. #14- Arranging employee getaways
My strategy as a CEO is to maintain a balance between
hectic workdays & leisure trips. I personally believe this
increases employee productivity and motivates them to
perform better. Also, the best part about these
getaways is that everyone from the highest-ranking
employee to lowest ranking individuals is made a part
of this. This allows them to interact apart from the
work-life and bond with one another. In the long run,
this shrinks the employee turnover rate and lowers
absenteeism – this is an achievement for me!

18. #15- Taking power naps
I would say that my favorite or best hack to be
productive throughout the day is taking a power nap
during work. Success is directly connected to
productivity and naps are among the best ways to
ensure productivity. I feel fresh and recharged after a
nap of more or less 20 minutes on almost every
working day. I am not at all productive when my mind
and body is exhausted, and I have found nothing as
effective as a nap to refresh and recharge your energy. I
would suggest everyone give your brain little rest at
work.

19. #16- I'm always observing!
As a CEO, I don't just read about the latest trends &
strategies, I like to experience them from the eyes of
the consumer so we can improve our products and
content. For example, I'll join someone's membership
to observe how the backend user experience is set-up
and be inspired to try new ideas for platform
navigation, membership features, etc.

20. Or I'll buy someone's product just to go through their
whole purchasing process and observe what their sales
funnel looks like. Do they try to upsell me? When? If it
works, why? I'm looking at what makes me click, buy,
feel excited, or feel confused so we can apply what's
relevant to improving our own sales pages or process. I
also learn so much from the post-buying experience.
What kinds of communication do I receive from the
company after purchase? How is the product
delivered? It's my favorite way to learn quickly and
apply what's relevant to our own business – and, as an
added bonus, support my fellow small business
owners/peers by being their customer. Collaboration
over the competition, always.

21. #17-30-minute morning routine
The one habit that I think makes me more successful is
having a fixed morning routine I do when I wake up
that excites, motivates, and energizes me. To start the
day, I go through my version of The Miracle Morning
(by Hal Elrod). I have a 30-minute routine of brushing
my teeth, washing my face, journaling, exercise, and
meditation I do every weekday to wake up. This
morning routine has been key in preparing me to be
productive and maximize work output each workday.

22. #18- Having conversations
The habit of having conversations with strangers and
almost anyone I meet, it doesn't matter if it's on the
street in a cafe at a business event. This goes beyond
just simple networking since usually I don't know the
person or where's the conversation going to lead. It
might be a new business opportunity or finding an
unorthodox technique from another industry that I can
apply in my own business.

23. The trick to focus on talking to many people, since the
play is about volume – the majority of conversations
will not yield fruit other than just a pleasant
conversation, but you don't know which ones will bring
you value, so just talk to people, it's that simple, just
make it a habit. By doing this along the way I also have
greatly improved my conversational skills, confidence,
and charisma.

24. #19- Honeybook
As CEOs of service-based businesses, it's important to
envision what we want our clients’ experience to look
like from start to finish. Honeybook, a client
management software (CMS), is one of my favorite
resources for client onboarding. It has been an absolute
lifesaver. So much so that I don’t know how I ran my
business before, without it. The entire process,
onboarding, contracts, listings are there to help
automate and simplify my service-based business. It
reduces what would be a 20 hour week into 4 hours.

25. #20- Clocify
Resources for time management are crucially important
for us. I use various remote tools to manage my time
and activities so I'm 100% dedicated to the right thing.
Clocify is a great tool to use, but you can also use your
collaboration apps for the best results. If you're often
on the run, make sure your smartwatch/phone is
always there to remind you of important tasks.
Remember to also take notes all the time.

26. #21- Two hacks
My CEO hack is my habit of direct communication.
Chain of command takes time and does not always reap
desirable results. Having free-flowing communication
channels throughout the company at every level brings
in the best results. The other habit that I promote
amongst my employees is to have a to-do list. Having
the work of the day charted outcomes in handy and
ensures productivity. A precise to-do list sets achievable
targets and gives greater job satisfaction.

27. #22- Thinking in my downtime
I have to solve lots of complex problems in my line of
work. Sometimes the solution is not obvious when I’m
sitting at my desk. I find that I do my best thinking
when I’m away from the office. So when I’m walking my
dog or going for a jog in the park, I allow my thoughts
to come to me naturally. I carry a little notepad and pen
with me at all times so if I have a great idea I can jot it
down.

28. #23- Blinkist
Reading books has always been a part of my growing as
an entrepreneur, but while getting busy building a
company I started looking at a growing pile of books on
my desk with longing. And then Blinkist came to the
rescue. Blinkist is an app that delivers 15-minute-read
summaries of the best non-fiction books out there. As
an entrepreneur, you get a wide choice of books on
productivity and time management, motivation and
inspiration, leadership, money and investments,
psychology, or work-life balance. So I get the essence of
brilliant books within just minutes of reading or
listening to audiobooks. Well done, Blinkist.

29. #24- Watching YouTube videos
I know that doesn't sound right, but during the
lockdown, I found so many inspirational people from
actors to leaders in business to spiritual leaders and
people within my industry. My feed now is full of videos
I derive much-needed inspiration and ideas from. These
people have been through so many different things and
listening to them and gaining wisdom has been such an
inspiration for me. I have videos playing in the
background all day while I work now and I have never
been more positive.

30. #26- The Speed of TrustL by Stephen Covey
Before I became a successful CEO, there is just one
book that really inspired and pushed me to become
one successful businessman. This book is entitled “The
Speed of TrustL The One That Changes Everything” by
Stephen Covey. What I love about this book is that it
tells us that speed is everything for any business. It is
understood that you should build your company at full
speed without vomiting any major mistakes. However,
everything becomes so much easier with trust.

31. #27- Listening to podcasts while walking
The combination between audio and physical light
activity makes the information stick better and gives
me an extra boost of energy. I listen to
entrepreneurship, marketing and tech podcasts and I
noticed an improvement in my decisions and mental
health. It's a good practice to schedule 10-15 mins
listen walks in-between work sessions. When you're
managing a team there is no shortage of meetings and
decision-making. It helps to have a clear mind while in
the process.

32. #27- Listening to podcasts while walking
The combination between audio and physical light
activity makes the information stick better and gives
me an extra boost of energy. I listen to
entrepreneurship, marketing and tech podcasts and I
noticed an improvement in my decisions and mental
health. It's a good practice to schedule 10-15 mins
listen walks in-between work sessions. When you're
managing a team there is no shortage of meetings and
decision-making. It helps to have a clear mind while in
the process.

33. #28- +15% hack
The first business hack I learned is something I still use
to this day. It’s called the +15% hack. Whatever you are
doing, be it marketing, customer acquisition quota, or
even customer communication – implement the +15%.
If you are marketing to a certain demographic or age
group – expand it by 15% what you feel is applicable. If
you have a goal of 10 new clientele contracts per
month, don’t stop at 10, add an extra 15% or acquire 2
extra clients.

34. If a customer has even the slightest issue with a service
you offered, resolve it first – and then offer them a 15%
voucher on their next service! I live and die by this rule,
and whenever I set a business standard to the market
average, I implement my +15% hack with haste and
without delay.