Why I Only Give 75% At Work
I used to think good analysts worked 110%. Now I know great advisors work 75%.
For years, I buried myself in back-to-back meetings, stacked deadlines on deadlines, and convinced myself that working nights and weekends to learn new skills was the path to success.
Here's what I learned: I do my best work when I put in significantly less than 100%.
The difference isn't about being lazy. It's about being strategic.
When you're running at 100% capacity, you're reactive. You jump from urgent request to urgent request. You build the dashboard they asked for instead of the decision framework they actually need. You answer the question instead of asking if it's the right question.
At 75%, you have space to think. Space to say no. Space to guide the conversation instead of just responding to it.
What "75%" Actually Looks Like
Most of what separates good work from great work doesn't happen while you're doing the work. It happens in the spaces between.
Here's what I deliberately schedule—yes, schedule—to create that space:
Executive Thinking and Organization Small chunks daily, plus a bigger block Friday afternoons. If I don't stop to think and organize, I'll blindly run from project to project without asking if it's the right work. This is where I ask: "What decision are we actually trying to make?" instead of just cranking out analysis.
Eating (Seriously) On busy days, lunch goes on the calendar. Otherwise I run meeting-to-meeting, get tired and unfocused, and make worse decisions in the afternoon. Hard to be strategic when you're hangry.
Walking/Mind Clearing Mid-morning or mid-afternoon breaks to step away and regroup. This is where the "aha" moments happen. It’s when I realize the stakeholder's real question, or see the simpler solution, or figure out how to frame the insight so it actually lands.
Buffer Time Commute blocks, transition time between meetings, and breathing room around deadlines. Because showing up rushed makes you look reactive, not strategic.
Why This Matters for Data Leaders
Your stakeholders don't need you at 100% busy. They need you at 100% thoughtful.
When you're overcommitted, you:
Build what they ask for instead of what they need
Miss the real business question behind the data request
Deliver insights without the context that makes them actionable
Sound like a service provider instead of a strategic partner
When you protect that 25%, you:
Have space to understand the decision they're really trying to make
Can reframe problems before diving into solutions
Show up to conversations prepared and grounded
Build trust by being responsive without being reactive
The goal isn't to work less. It's to work more intentionally.
A Little Assignment
This week, audit your calendar and ask yourself:
Where are you running from meeting to meeting without time to think?
What would you add to your schedule if you had 25% more space?
When was the last time you had an insight away from your desk?
Pick one block this week - lunch, a walk, or 30 minutes of thinking time - put it on your calendar. Treat it like any other meeting.
You might be surprised how much better your work gets when you give yourself room to do it.