EMBER IGNITE: What Productivity Really Means for Entrepreneurs (and Why Being Busy Isn’t the Goal)
- Dec 22, 2025
- 5 min read
Most entrepreneurs don’t struggle because they’re overwhelmed - not lazy. There are so many things to do; too many tasks, too many tabs open. Too many ideas. Too many responsibilities. Our to do list (as Joaqin says) is ENORMOUS — and the one thing we don't spend enough time on? Wondering if all that busy work could be organized into better output in less time.
And that, my friends, is precisely why I sat down with a Productivity expert.
Joaquín Kosegarten is a renowned productivity coach and author of Get It Done. He was kind enough to give us a few minutes of his time to talk about productivity for the entrepreneur - from a different angle. Not hustle or #riseandgrind culture, but building systems, habits, and mindset shifts that help entrepreneurs get meaningful work done — without burning out.
This blog breaks down the key ideas from that conversation and translates them into practical insights for small business owners who want more focus, more momentum, and more time back.
1. Entrepreneur Productivity Isn’t About Doing More
One of the first things Joaquín challenges is the idea that productivity equals output.
Instead, he encourages us to think about using the resources we have to do more with less. For entrepreneurs, being busy is easy. Emails, admin, messages, content, meetings — the day fills itself.
The real work is deciding what not to do.
Productivity, at its core, is about intention:
choosing the right priorities,
protecting your energy,
optimizing for better output
and aligning and optimizing your action with the outcomes you seek
If everything feels urgent, nothing is strategic.
2. Stack: Small Habits Create Stability
Joaquín’s first core principle is to Stack Small Habits — the idea that peak performance comes from combining small, supportive habits rather than relying on motivation or a marathon of efforts.
For entrepreneurs, this might look like:
starting the day with one non-negotiable focus task,
pairing planning with an existing routine (coffee, commute, walk),
creating simple rituals that reduce decision fatigue
chosing healthy habits such as hydrating to improve your overall performance
Stacking habits removes friction and creates better working conditions for yourseld - so you can get more out of the same amount of time. And when friction is gone, consistency becomes possible. This is where productivity starts to feel sustainable and healthy instead of exhausting.
3. Compound: Progress Is Quiet, Until It Isn’t
The second principle, Compounding, is where many business owners lose patience or focus.
Small actions don’t feel impressive in the moment. But over time, they create momentum that’s hard to stop.
In business, compounding shows up as:
consistent content instead of viral chasing,
choosing an hour of focus each morning to tackle very large projects and get them done,
steady systems instead of constant reinvention,
gradual skill-building instead of overnight expertise
Entrepreneurial progress rarely looks dramatic day-to-day — but zoom out, and the results are undeniable. The problem isn’t that small actions don’t work. It’s that most people stop before they compound.
4. Work Smart, Not Hard (and Mean It)
“Work smarter, not harder” is one of the most overused phrases in business — and one of the least applied. Joaquín reframes this as:
working with your natural energy rhythms
matching tasks to the right time of day
designing your environment to support focus
simplifying workflows instead of overloading them
For entrepreneurs, this means accepting a hard truth: You don’t need more time — you need better systems. When your workflow supports you, productivity stops being a battle.
5. The Real Productivity Shift: Identity
One of the most powerful ideas in this conversation wasn’t tactical — it was psychological.
Productivity improves when entrepreneurs stop asking:“How do I get more done?”
And start asking:“Who do I need to become to run this business well?”
That identity shift changes everything:
you protect your time differently
you make clearer decisions
you prioritize healthy and strategic choices rather than just being 'busy'
you stop reacting and start leading (life, business, effort, etc)
Productivity becomes less about discipline and more about alignment.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Productivity Questions for Entrepreneurs
Use these prompts to reflect on how you’re currently working — and where small shifts could make a big difference.
Clarity
What tasks move my business forward — and which ones just keep me busy?
What does “productive” really mean in this season of my business?
Habits
What small habit could I stack onto my existing routine to support focus?
Where am I relying on stubborn motivation instead of structure?
Systems
Which parts of my workflow feel heavy or repetitive?
What could be simplified, automated, or removed?
Energy
When during the day do I do my best thinking?
Am I matching high-focus tasks to high-energy moments?
Identity
What kind of business owner do I need to become next?
What would change if I trusted small, consistent actions to compound?
Productivity for entrepreneurs isn’t about squeezing more into your day. It’s about creating space for the highest-impact activity and committing to tactical changes for better output (arguably, what actually matters).
Joaquín’s approach is a reminder that focus is a skill, systems are learnable, and progress doesn’t have to come at the cost of your wellbeing. He teaches an entire system of Productivity and we highly recommend checking it out.
Want to Go Deeper Into Productivity?
If Joaquín’s perspective on productivity resonated, you can explore his work further below.
Read a Free Chapter of Get It Done
If you’re always busy but still feel like you’re getting nowhere, Joaquín’s book Get It Done breaks down a practical, sustainable approach to productivity — built around habit stacking, compounding progress, and working smarter without burning out.
👉 Download the free chapter here: https://get.joaquinkosegarten.com/freechapter
The GET IT DONE Method — 7-Week Program
For entrepreneurs who want real structure and accountability, the GET IT DONE Method is a 7-week productivity program designed to help you reclaim up to 10+ hours per week — while also helping others do the same.
The program is unlocked when you donate 10 copies of Get It Done, turning your growth into impact.
👉 Learn more about the masterclass offer here: https://get.joaquinkosegarten.com/masterclass-offer
If you’re building a business, your time is one of your most valuable assets. How you use it — and how intentionally you design your work — will shape everything that comes next.
This is exactly why Ember Ignite exists: to spotlight ideas that help entrepreneurs think more clearly, work more intentionally, and grow without burning out.
Check out the rest of the IGNITE series: https://www.roseemberfoundry.com/ignite
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