How to Automate 80% of Your Business and Work on the 20% That Matters
In this blog, you'll learn how business automation can help you optimize your time to work on what truly matters.
Let’s be real, if you’re still doing everything yourself, you don’t own a business. You own a job. And probably one you hate half the time. The dream of entrepreneurship isn’t about grinding 16-hour days and drowning in emails—it’s about creating a machine that runs without you. Enter business automation.
The real power move? Automate 80% of your business so you can focus on the 20% that actually moves the needle. And, here’s how to make that happen.
Step 1: Identify Your 80%
Not every task needs your attention. In fact, most don’t. Before you start throwing software at your problems, figure out what tasks are sucking up your time. Common time-draining activities include:
Administrative work (email, scheduling, invoicing, payroll)
Customer service (answering FAQs, handling basic support)
Marketing (social media posting, content scheduling, email campaigns)
Sales follow-ups (cold outreach, lead nurturing, appointment booking)
Operations (order processing, inventory management)
Once you pinpoint these tasks, you can start business automation strategies to reclaim your time.
Step 2: Systemize Before You Automate
Automation without a system is chaos on autopilot. Before plugging in automation tools, document your workflows.
Create SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) – Outline exactly how each repetitive task is done.
Use checklists and templates – If your team is winging it every time, you’re wasting time.
Find bottlenecks – What tasks slow things down? Fix those first.
Once you’ve mapped out your business processes, business automation tools can take over.
Step 3: Automate the Low-Value Tasks
Here’s where the magic happens. You don’t need to personally send every invoice, schedule every post, or manually follow up with leads. Let business automation handle it.
Tools to Automate Your Business:
Zapier – Connects your favorite apps to automate workflows (e.g., send an email when a new lead comes in).
Calendly – Automates appointment scheduling (no more back-and-forth emails).
ActiveCampaign – Handles email marketing automation and CRM.
Gusto – Runs payroll, benefits, and HR tasks without your involvement.
Hootsuite or Buffer – Automates social media scheduling.
ManyChat – AI-powered chatbots to handle customer inquiries 24/7.
Every repetitive task that doesn’t need a human touch? Automate it.
Step 4: Delegate the 20% That Can’t Be Automated
Not everything can be automated, but that doesn’t mean you should be doing it yourself. If a human needs to do it, make sure it’s not you.
Hire a virtual assistant – Offload admin tasks.
Get a sales rep – Stop closing every deal yourself.
Bring on an operations manager – Let someone else handle the daily logistics.
Outsource marketing – Paid ads, content, and branding don’t have to be on your plate.
The goal isn’t just business automation—it’s business liberation.
Step 5: Track, Optimize, and Keep Scaling
Automation isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it deal. Keep an eye on what’s working and refine as you go.
Track KPIs – What’s being automated? What’s saving the most time?
Get team feedback – Are automated processes running smoothly?
Test new tools – Technology evolves. Stay ahead.
Scaling doesn’t mean working more hours—it means working smarter. If you’ve automated 80% of your business and delegated the rest, congratulations—you’re now running an actual company, not just a glorified job.
The Takeaway: Business Automation is the Key to Freedom
You didn’t start a business to be a slave to it. If you’re still buried in busy work, you’re playing the wrong game. Business automation is the ultimate cheat code for growth, scalability, and freedom.
So, what’s your move? Start automating today and get back to working on your business, not in it.