Hello
Every founder tracks cash flow.
Many track capital efficiency.
Some even track time.
But almost none track the most valuable currency they have: energy.
Energy leaks silently. You don’t see the cost until you’re already in deficit. And once you’re there, scaling doesn’t just stall; it spirals down.
Psychologist Stevan Hobfoll’s Conservation of Resources Theory explains why founders experience burnout more quickly than expected. When your energy drops below a critical threshold, depletion spirals happen: recovery takes exponentially more effort than prevention.
For founders, neglecting energy isn’t harmless; it erodes your capacity to lead, make decisions and grow.
Think of energy in the same way you think about capital.
This is why two founders can work the same number of hours, but one doubles ARR while the other burns out. It’s not the hours that make the difference; it’s the return on energy invested.
Case in point: Doubling ARR by protecting energy
I worked with a SaaS founder who was close to breaking point.
Revenue was growing, but they were drowning in calls, Slack messages, and last-minute client escalations.
The breakthrough came when they restructured their workload around energy, not hours.
The result? Within 6 months, they’d doubled ARR.
Not because they found more hours, but because they protected the energy that created the highest return.
Here’s a 5-minute framework you can run every Friday to spot leaks and protect your capacity.
Draw three columns in your journal (or open a blank Notion/Google Doc).
Label them: Invested | Wasted | Leaked.
Fill them in for the past week.
Circle one item from each column.
That’s it, three moves, every week. Minor tweaks that compound into massive gains.
Instead of: “I just need to push through this week.”
Try: “If I don’t protect my energy, I’ll pay for it in lost growth.”
One keeps you in survival mode.
The other keeps you scaling.
Starting a business was one of the loneliest and most difficult times of my life. I had so many questions, so many moments of doubt, and yet no one I could really turn to.
I built the solution that I wished I had back then. And now its live.
BotDojo was the team behind this.
They specialise in building founder-grade AI, tools that take pressure off the toughest parts of entrepreneurship. Experts in their field and a great team to work with.
They sat with me and patiently listened to my story. Every mistake, lesson, win, disaster... (the list goes on) ... from my two-decade long entrepreneurial journey. Pairing my experience and their expertise together, we got to work.
And created Luke Tobin AI.
Now, instead of facing decisions alone, founders can lean on Luke Tobin AI to:
● Make faster, smarter decisions without the stress.
● Navigate crises with clarity and control.
● Build stronger teams and avoid burnout.
● Focus on growth instead of getting lost in the noise.
Take it from me...
Founders don’t need to burnout to succeed.
Thanks again to the BotDojo team.
If you're curious, check out Luke Tobin AI - HereWork with BotDojo
This book is one of the best books I’ve read on sustainable performance. It shifts the focus from managing your time to managing your energy, providing practical tools such as energy cycles, renewal breaks, and focus rituals that you can implement immediately. If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I don’t have time,” this book will change your perspective.
Protecting your energy isn’t just about work; it starts with how you fuel and recover your body and mind.
That’s why I created Pure Energy Essentials, this week’s complementary download, covering the practical habits that make the most significant difference for founders under pressure.
Inside, you’ll find:
It’s designed to be actionable, not overwhelming. Quick wins you can put into action straight away.
Imagine leading with capacity that compounds, instead of drains.
Clear mornings for deep work.
A team that handles the noise.
Energy invested only where it creates exponential returns.
That’s how you scale without burning out.
And it starts with spotting the leaks.
Before next Monday, run your first Energy Audit
Where did you invest, where did you waste, and where did you leak energy?
Write it down.
Protect your energy like it’s your capital.
To your unstoppable success,
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