Time Boss -- Finding Your Highest Sustainable Pace with Andrew Hartman

Episode Links:

Time Boss -- https://timeboss.us

Weekly Operating System Masterclass -- https://www.timeboss.us/masterclass

Andrew Hartman LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhartman/ 

Cal Newport / Deep Work -- https://calnewport.com/writing/#deep

Summary:

In this episode of The Corvus Effect, I sit down with Andrew Hartman, founder of Time Boss and fractional COO, whose journey from burnout to balance offers profound insights for ambitious leaders. At 27, Andrew discovered the devastating cost of grinding without boundaries when stress literally took away his sense of smell for six months. This wake-up call launched his 15-year quest to discover what he calls his "highest sustainable pace."

Andrew's Time Boss framework challenges the hustle culture mentality that dominates today's leadership landscape. Through candid storytelling and practical wisdom, he reveals how treating time like cash instead of credit can transform both professional results and personal relationships. His approach proves that excellence doesn't require sacrificing family presence or personal wellbeing.

The conversation explores the emotional complexity of time management, the hidden costs of multitasking, and why most leaders struggle with boundaries that actually stick. Andrew shares how his daily review process allows him to completely disconnect from work and be fully present with his wife Kelly and children Emma and Luke.

For leaders caught in the endless cycle of always being "on," this episode offers a roadmap to sustainable success without the burnout. Andrew's insights reveal that the most successful leaders aren't those who work the most hours, but those who work within intentional constraints that force creativity and preserve what matters most.

Show Notes:

00:32 Meet Andrew Hartman: Founder of Time Boss

02:59 Understanding the Grind Trap

04:42 The Imposter Syndrome Connection

05:30 The Cost Revelation

06:42 Accepting Finiteness

07:51 Time as Cash Philosophy

10:44 Finding Highest Sustainable Pace

11:30 The Marathon Analogy

15:07 Strategic Constraints Drive Creativity

16:24 The Development Through Delegation

18:27 Installing the Framework

20:39 The Multitasking Trap

23:52 Building Boundaries That Stick

24:56 Retraining Relationships

26:46 The Presence Problem

27:06 The Room on Fire Solution

31:59 Living the Framework

35:57 When Plans Need to Flex

37:58 Message to my kids: Emma and Luke

Transcript: