⏰ Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell | Habit Chess Newsletter


Hi Reader,

In this episode of the Habit Chess Podcast, I dig into the game-changing ideas from Dan Martell's book Buy Back Your Time.

This one’s all about gaining back your most precious resource: time.

Here are some key highlights:

🎂 The 10-80-10 Rule

This rule is a time-saver for leaders who want to stay involved without getting bogged down in every detail:

  1. 10%: You handle the initial ideation—setting the vision and objectives.
  2. 80%: Your team takes over the execution.
  3. 10%: You come back for final touches and integration.

The result? High-quality work that aligns with your vision, without burning all your time.

These two concepts can completely transform how you manage your schedule and focus on delegating work that drives real results.

Time Auditing & Tracking:

I share my own time-tracking approach, built on a Notion template I’ve been using daily for over three years, which has helped thousands track their time smarter.

I recently made some updates in automations and being able to visualize some of the data. Download your free copy here.

🔥 Energy is the Real Currency

Beyond time and money, energy is the often-overlooked piece of the puzzle.

Learn about Dan's 'DRIP Matrix'—a simple framework that categorizes tasks by their energy and value, helping you focus on high-impact, energizing work.

💸 Buyback Rate

The Buyback Rate is a simple calculation Dan shares to help you outsource effectively. Here’s how it works:

Calculate your effective hourly rate (total income ÷ 2000 hours) and divide it by four. This is your buyback rate—the maximum amount you should pay someone else to handle tasks you shouldn’t be doing yourself.

It’s a small shift with a big impact. By paying for help with low-value tasks, you reclaim time for work that matters most.

"$10 million companies aren't built on $10 tasks."

Listen here:

show
Buy Back Your Time by Dan Ma...
Oct 31 · Habit Chess
36:58
Spotify Logo
 

Watch here:

video preview

In your corner,
Misbah Haque

P.S. If you enjoy this episode, a quick rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify would mean a lot!

How I help you own your means of digital production

  • Production Plans - Done-for-you plans for YouTube, podcasts, and social.
  • Vodcast Accelerator - A step-by-step system to build a high-quality video podcast that serves you, your people, and your purpose. Comes with a Notion workspace full of 10 templates you can make yours with one click.
  • 1:1 Consulting Packages - From designing your home studio to learning how to edit yourself, I offer sprints that help you feel more in control on your content production.

Why am I getting this email?

You likely signed up for one of my free tools to help you build your own table with podcasting or the Habit Chess newsletter directly.

I'm Misbah Haque by the way.

In 2016, I started podcasting from my childhood bedroom with no audience or credibility.

Within a year, I landed my dream internship, dream job in the Bay Area, and was producing a show that went on to do over 1 million downloads.

In 2020, I founded Pod Mahal to help others build a body of work through podcasting.

We offer consulting to help you own your means of production, as well as done-for-you plans where all you need to do is show up and record.

I also host my own podcast, Habit Chess, where I test and execute these strategies in real-time.

I send you my Habit Chess newsletter periodically when I have something useful to share. Usually it's about skill acquisition & learning how to learn.

Thanks for giving me a few scrolls today.

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Misbah Haque

I write about high agency thinking and skill acquisition.

Read more from Misbah Haque

What Duolingo's AI-first backlash reveals about the power of people Welcome to the Habit Chess newsletter where I talk about training the strength & conditioning of skills. So you can learn new things, faster. read time: 3-4 minutes Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify A little over a month ago, the CEO of Duolingo sent out what he felt was a very smart internal email about being AI first. The backlash that followed was something none of us could have predicted. And I think it really marked...

I tried turning my smartphone into a dumb phone for 3 months Welcome to the Habit Chess newsletter where I talk about training the strength & conditioning of skills. So you can learn new things, faster. read time: 2 minutes A few months ago, I was working on a project that required deep focus. Within 20 minutes, I had unconsciously opened my email three times, checked my email twice, and glanced at YouTube Studio—all without accomplishing a single meaningful task. This got me thinking about...

Hi Reader, Three years ago, I had a client who spent two months getting ready to start her podcast. She bought the mic. Set up her recording space. Even had her first five episodes planned out. But she never hit record. The editing software paralyzed her. Every tutorial she watched made it seem more complicated than it needed to be. This is a major bottleneck that dozens of clients inevitably encounter. I’ve found that editing is one of the biggest things that holds people back from starting...