The Energy Test: Why Some Business Strategies Stick and Others Don't

And how I'm using it for the next phase of my business

Have you ever committed to a business strategy that made perfect logical sense but left you feeling like you were pushing a boulder uphill?

I used to choose strategies based on what I thought "made sense" logically. But despite my best intentions, I'd find myself procrastinating, losing momentum, or just feeling blah about the work I needed to do.

Then I discovered something that changed everything: the energy-based approach.

The energy-based approach simply involves selecting energizing activities to grow your business

For example, if you see two ways to market your business—one involves speaking and another involves writing—you choose the one that jazzes you up the most. If you love to present to a group more than type at your keyboard alone, you focus on speaking. If you love to write more than speak, focus on that.

There are hundreds of strategies out there. Choose ones you know you can enjoy.

This insight came to me while rereading Patrick Lencioni's book Working Genius, which identifies six strengths (or "geniuses") that energize people. As I looked at my own working geniuses, I realized I have so many options open to me. I really ought to be choosing those options through the filter of what gives me joy.

Two reasons the energy-based approach so valuable

1. Avoid burnout

Spending too much time on tasks that don't light us up actually wears us out. Research by Patrick Lencioni's Table Group showed that this leads to low job satisfaction and, in many cases, burnout.

Here's what I've noticed: When someone offers me a strategy that involves grinding on my own all by myself, my brain already starts anticipating that I won't feel energized to do even more after completing those tasks. I get tired in advance.

But when I think about leading a workshop? I can work for hours preparing because I know I'll love delivering it to a willing group of people. I look forward to it even though it’s hard.

2. Stay consistent

When we enjoy what we do, it's so much easier to stick with it. This principle applies as much to business as any other area, like exercise.

Try exercise you hate and you probably won't do it much. Engage with exercise you love and you can't wait to return. That's the easiest way to stay consistent with anything.

When it comes to my workshop strategy, I know that I will feel so energized after each workshop, just as I have in the past, so it'll be easy for me to stay consistent and keep delivering them.

How do you use the energy-based approach?

Step 1: Know the main area you need to focus on in your business

Get specific about what you're trying to achieve. Not just "grow my business," but something measurable like "get 15 coaching clients per month" or "launch three new products this year."

Step 2: Find a list of strategies that could help you make progress in that area

Cast your net wide. Brainstorm. Research different approaches, ask other entrepreneurs, or consult with someone who's good at generating ideas. For example, Josh Spector, a contributor to my book Profitable Playbooks, has ideas oozing out of every pore. Every time I see him answer a question, including my own, I'm stunned by the extreme usefulness of his ideas.

Step 3: Choose based on how energizing the strategy is for you

This is where most people go wrong. They choose what sounds most impressive or what worked for someone else, instead of what lights them up.

Ask yourself: Which strategy makes you think "I can't wait to try this" versus "Ugh, I guess I should do this"?

An example from my business

Let me show you how this works in practice.

Step 1: The next phase of my business involves creating more products and services.

Step 2: I considered different strategies: group coaching programs, an online community, more standalone products and more.

Step 3: The one that jazzes me up the most? Creating short action workshops that deliver a clear result.

Here's why workshops energize me: If you tell me "On this day and at this time, you're going to deliver a workshop on this topic," I will get that done, hell or high water. The deadline focuses my energy, and I end up working very hard—and enjoying that work.

I love the audience interaction. I love that participants walk away with something concrete they've accomplished during our time together. And I love getting five-star feedback from almost everybody.

I created six or seven workshops for Tiago Forte's Building A Second Brain course, and it was some of the most energizing work I've ever done.

So that's going to be my focus over the next few months.

"But don't we need to do things we don't like to grow our business?"

Sometimes. But minimize this as much as possible.

There's a difference between uncomfortable activities that are momentarily uncomfortable (like quarterly taxes) and things that continuously drain your energy.

The main engine of your business ought to be something you enjoy.

For example, if you hate to write and your business plan involves tons of writing, you have options:

1. Figure out how to make writing more enjoyable (I speak most of my writing now and have it transcribed—way more energizing for me)

2. Find another way to grow your business

3. Delegate the activity to someone else

If you can't do any of these, consider how long you want to be in this business. Do you want to spend half your life doing something that feels like pushing that boulder uphill?

The energy advantage

When you choose strategies that energize you, something amazing happens: You become more creative, more strategic, and you work harder and longer—because you're ready to go back and do some more.

This isn't just about feeling good (though that's important). It's about building a sustainable business that you can maintain long-term without burning out.

Your next step

Now you know the three steps to using the energy-based approach, but you're left with a problem: Where will you learn about strategies that might fit you?

There's so much noise online. Not every voice is delivering quality information.

One solution is to find curated sources of information—people who are vetted for quality.

That's why I created Profitable Playbooks. It collects proven strategies from top creators who make a consistent living from their work, so you can choose the approaches that energize you most.

Get your copy here and start choosing strategies that actually energize you!

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Still here? I love that. One thing you can do for me is reply to this email (or leave a comment) and share: What business activity energizes you most? Your response might inspire a future article.