Episode
273. He Worked 90 Hours In A Week. Here’s What Happened - Chris Bailey
- Podcast
- Contractor Evolution
- Published
- May 20, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3227
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP273 Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL273 Have you ever pulled a 60-hour work week and felt like you got nothing done? Productivity researcher Chris Bailey ran a radical experiment—working 90 hours one week, 20 the next—just to see what would happen to his output. The results challenge everything contractors believe about grinding longer to get ahead. In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Chris Bailey (author of Intentional ) breaks down what his 90-hour vs 20-hour productivity experiment revealed about how work smarter not harder actually works. If you're running a contracting business and burning 60+ hours a week in the trenches, this conversation will show you why more hours ≠ more results—and give you practical methods for how to get more done in less time without sacrificing your margin or your mental health. What you'll learn: The surprising results of Chris Bailey's 90-hour productivity experiment Why working longer hours actually destroys your output (and the data that proves it) How to transition from "warrior" mode to "system-builder" mode in your business Simple, research-backed methods for intentional productivity The real cost of contractor burnout—and how to prevent it Why the most productive contractors work fewer hours, not more Whether you're stuck in the trenches or building systems to scale, this episode will change how you think about time, energy, and what it actually takes to grow a profitable contracting business. 00:00-Intro 02:12-Addiction to Distractions 03:55-Impact of Tech on Focus 09:51-Lessons from Boredom Experiment 17:08-The Power of Wandering in Leadership 20:…