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Managing one business is challenging enough, but handling several at once? Now that’s next-level. I should know — I’ve owned over 30 businesses in my lifetime, and as CEO, adding new ventures to our portfolio is practically a sport. Over the years, I’ve picked up plenty of strategies (and some wildly entertaining stories) that make balancing multiple businesses not just doable but honestly rewarding. Here’s my blueprint of what has really worked for me.
1. Time management is your superpower
Time is every entrepreneur’s most valuable asset. As someone managing multiple companies, I can’t stress enough how crucial it is to master your schedule. I assign dedicated blocks for each business or priority task — to illustrate, back when I was running my first duo of companies, I devoted mornings to one and afternoons and evenings to the other. This approach minimized distractions and helped me stay focused on what truly mattered each day.
I’m also a big believer in the 80/20 rule: focus on the 20% of activities that yield 80% of the results, and don’t be afraid to eliminate or delegate the rest. Technology can be a true lifesaver here — my digital calendar (and my handwritten one) keep me and my businesses moving at full speed.
Make the most of every free moment. I like to review emails, proposals or agreements while I’m cooking or eating. It’s a simple way to stay productive and avoid wasting time on tasks I can easily knock out during downtime. Every minute counts!
Related: How to Successfully Run Multiple Businesses
2. Delegate like a pro
No one’s a superhero — and you shouldn’t be expected to handle every task alone. I’ve learned the hard way that knowing what to hand off (and to whom) is critical. I concentrate on my strengths, like brainstorming and big-picture planning and leave specialized work to the pros.
Building teams of talented, trustworthy people is non-negotiable. If hiring full-time staff isn’t on the cards, there are skilled freelancers and virtual assistants just a few clicks away. One of my real estate marketing businesses requires a lot of content creation and marketing of luxury real estate homes in California. Outsourcing work like graphic design or video editing frees up my time to focus on growth initiatives.
3. Prioritize ruthlessly
Trying to juggle everything will only make you dizzy. That’s why prioritization remains one of my top skills. Every business I run gets its own set of goals, usually mapped out each quarter, and these guide my daily and weekly priorities. Not everything is urgent; knowing how to identify genuine emergencies versus issues that can wait is burnout prevention 101. And if a similar task pops up across several businesses — like a round of contract reviews or a big content-planning session — I tackle them together to maximize efficiency.
4. Get (and stay) organized
Organization is the thread holding this circus act together! For each venture, keeping communication, files and workflow