Do the Work Once, Get Paid Forever: The Leverage Principle Every Business Owner Needs
One of the most powerful strategies for business growth is also one of the simplest:
Do the work once, and get paid forever or at least for a very long time.
At Entrepreneurial Business School (EBS), we call this the Leverage Principle, and it sits at the heart of scalable, sustainable business success. When used well, leverage allows you to multiply your output, your impact, and your income without multiplying your time.
If you want to grow faster, work smarter, and increase your long-term profitability, mastering this principle is essential.
What Does “Do the Work Once, Get Paid Forever” Really Mean?
The idea is straightforward:
You create something once; a system, tool, asset, or piece of content and it continues delivering value repeatedly.
This is the opposite of trading time for money. Instead of working harder, you build assets that keep producing results long after the work is done.
There are two key forms of leverage in this principle:
1. Macro Leverage: Creating Long-Lasting Assets
These are big pieces of work that keep generating income or impact over time.
Examples include:
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Writing a book or ebook
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Creating an online course
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Developing a signature methodology
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Building licensing or franchising systems
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Designing a repeatable coaching or consulting framework
You create the asset once and it pays you back for years.
2. Micro Leverage: Automating Repeatable Tasks
These are small, high-frequency tasks that you streamline, automate, or template so they no longer consume time.
Examples include:
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Email templates for sales and client onboarding
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Automated follow-up sequences
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Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
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Checklists for delivery, admin, or finance
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Reusable proposal or quote templates
You build the system once and use it hundreds or thousands of times.
These micro efficiencies compound, creating more time for high-value work and reducing time waste across the business.
Why This Principle Creates Faster Growth
Businesses that grow consistently are not those that work harder, they are those that create leverage.
When you implement “do the work once, get paid forever,” you achieve:
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More time – because systems replace manual effort
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More profit – because assets scale without extra labour
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More consistency – because templates and processes reduce errors
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More opportunity – because you’re freed up to grow the business
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More resilience – because the business isn’t dependent on you
This is how you shift from being the operator in your business to becoming the owner of a scalable system.
The Key Question: Where Can You Create Leverage in Your Business?
Every business has opportunities to automate, streamline, or systemise.
The challenge is identifying them.
Ask yourself:
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Where do I repeat the same task more than twice?
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What processes could be documented and standardised?
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Which manual tasks could be automated with technology?
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What assets could I create once and sell or use many times?
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Where am I still trading time for money?
Chances are, you already have hidden leverage points you haven’t tapped into yet.
Final Thought
Building leverage into your business isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing work that continues to pay you back. It’s how you multiply your results, grow sustainably, and create more freedom for yourself as a business owner.
Start small if you need to: automate one task, write one template, document one process.
Because every leveraged action adds up.
Do the work once.
Get paid again and again.
Your future business will thank you for it!
