Are you accidentally working for free?

Want to listen to this article instead? Check out the audio version here: 2025-05-09 The Productive Dad Newsletter: Are You Actually Working For Free? - Descript

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You think a project should take 20 hours, but it ends up being double that.

You're pouring hours into client work, only to look at the books and wonder where the real profit is.

I'm finishing up a ClickUp implementation for a client and the final time log gave me a bit of a reality check: 50 hours 👀

That was... more than I initially planned for.

I track every minute of my time when I build these systems.

Every click, every thought process, every back and forth with AI, it all got logged.

I don't track time just for the fun of it or because I like tracking things. (I do like to track things...)

This is about something crucial for your business:

Undercharging is Overworking: That 50-hour project? At a $5,000 fee, it worked out to $100/hour. Okay, not terrible. But spread over months, with testing and refinement? It's a bit different than a concentrated week of work.

The "Time Gaps" Are Stress Magnets: You think you spent 30 hours. But what about the "hidden" 20 hours swallowed by research, minor tweaks, and learning curves? That’s where the overwhelm creeps in, the stress mounts, and you wonder why there's no time left for family or Baldur's Gate 3 🧙‍♂️

So what do we do about it? What's the first step?

Track. Your. Time.

Seriously.

You have to know your numbers.

• Are you undercharging?

• Are projects taking longer than they should?

• Where are the inefficiencies you could systemise?

Once you know how long things actually take, you can:

• Price accurately and confidently. (That 50-hour project? That $100/hr is now my baseline. It only goes up from here as I get even more efficient.)

• Identify bottlenecks and areas ripe for streamlining.

• Create realistic timelines and manage client expectations better.

• Actually build a business that serves YOUR life, not the other way around.

Imagine if that 50-hour project, with all the knowledge gained, could be done in 20 hours next time. You could charge more, too. That's the power of systemisation and understanding your workflow.

Build smarter so you can live more. Have more fun! Go on more holidays!

It's about achieving that Systematic Freedom we all crave – where your business runs smoothly, profitably, and doesn't steal away your time from your family.

Want help getting time back in your business? Click here to book a free ClickUp Strategy Call:

https://cal.com/theproductivedad/discovery-chat

No pressure, just a chance to see if we're a good fit to work together and help you reclaim your time.

To freedom!