[INTERNAL MEMO]

Hey team,

I need to share something that's costing us $1.6 million per year…

According to research from Meyer, Evans and Rubinstein, task-switching can cost up to 40% of someone's productive time. Even brief mental blocks from shifting between tasks destroy productivity.

For Acquisition.com, that's $133,000 per month (or $5,000 per day) lost because we don't understand the fundamental difference between Makers and Managers.

Here's the problem:

There are two types of workers, and they need completely different schedules to succeed.

  • MANAGERS work in 30-60 minute blocks. Time divided into chunks. Calendar filled with meetings, communications, trainings. We direct others, collect data, lead, train, make decisions. For us, free time is a lost opportunity.

  • MAKERS need half-days or full-days. They make stuff (content, designs, copy, systems). An open calendar means maximum productivity. Even one meeting kills half their time slot because they're thinking "I have to finish this before XX time."

When managers schedule meetings with makers, it costs the maker 10x what it costs the manager.

The ironic part?

Managers often prevent makers from doing the work they need done from them.

Here's what needs to happen:

To Managers:

  • Every meeting with a maker costs them 10x what it costs you… make sure it's worth it

  • Respect when makers say no

  • HINT: Use Asana

To Makers:

  • Block ONE work unit (half day) for admin/meetings so you eat up one unit, not five

  • Set expectations with Slack away messages and retrain teammates

  • Work when you say you'll work - if you block time and make nothing, you hurt all makers

To Hybrids:

  • Theme your days rather than mixing tasks

  • See each day as 2 chunks: 4 hours AM for maker work, 4 hours PM for manager work

  • Or block 1 full day per week with NO meetings

  • Communication is more important for you than anyone

This $1.6 million we're losing? That's money we can't use to grow our media, create a better office, pay people more, or do cool stuff.

So… are you a maker, a manager, or something in between?

Once you know, protect your time accordingly.

Have a great week 🙏🏼

Leila

Ps. Want to receive these memos in your inbox (completely free)?

Subscribe here

Keep Reading