🚀 3.2.1. Strategic Laziness ::: Atomic Scaling

Too many founders mistake busyness for progress. But the real secret to success is leverage—not just effort. The most underrated skill every founder can joyfully master is Strategic Laziness.

3 Ideas from Me

I. Delete Before You Do.

As an investor, I say “no” far more than “yes.” As a founder, your toughest challenge isn’t execution—it’s choosing what to execute. Ruthlessly cut 80% of your to-do list. If a task doesn’t create asymmetric upside, kill it. Make this your weekly growth ritual every Friday.

II. Master the E → A → D → E Loop; "That's a great EADE!"

• Eliminate what no longer moves the needle
• Automate the repetitive with simple tools
• Delegate the rest to fractional help or AI
• Elevate your time to focus on 10× bets 

III. Track Your Revenue Per Employee, Not Just Total Revenue.

Use this simple formula monthly: Revenue ÷ Number of Employees. If the number isn’t rising, you’re scaling effort—not impact. Gabe Newell explains it well: an artist who works on a feature film production in New Zealand might make $200,000 a year. If they came to Valve, Gabe’s goal would be for that employee to make at least $500,000 (2.5x) and generate up to $5 million in value for the company. As the employee created more and more value, Valve would split the difference with the employee and go from there.

2 Quotes from Others

I.

“Get ready to pay 2.5x current salary. If someone creates a lot more value, split the difference and go from there." — Gabe Newell, Co-Founder of Valve Software

II.

“Innovation is saying no to a thousand things.” — Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple

1 Action for You, The 10-Minute Task-Kill Sprint

Open your calendar. Cancel or delegate everything that doesn’t serve a strategic outcome. Screenshot your lighter week. Share it with your accountability partner. Then go build.

Let's Play,

Ludovic Bodin

Founder, Investor and Author of Atomic Scaling | CEO of BOBIC Generational Wealth

P.S. I played a lot this week, building AI agents using powerful tools like n8n—a flexible workflow automation platform —and Gumloop. I also discovered an exciting new startup called Rork AI, which feels like the “Lovable” for mobile apps. The future is incredibly bright for Atomic Scalers! I've recorded a new video breaking down exactly what it takes to thrive in this space. If you’re curious, I’d love to jump on a call and explore how you can join this movement too​!

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WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: 

“Atomic Scaling showcases how small teams can dream and achieve big, serving as the definitive guide for mastering digital growth." — Duncan Clark, Bestselling Author of "Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built"