The Three Core Principles of Time Well Spent
Battle-tested approaches refined through 25+ years of managing complex live productions
Last week, I wrote about why so many of us in entertainment have lost the joy in work we once loved. The response was overwhelming—turns out, the "always on" culture has affected more of us than I realized.
Today, I want to share the three principles that pulled me back from the brink of burnout and have guided my work ever since. These aren't theoretical concepts—they're battle-tested approaches refined through international tour logistics, 180-person theater productions, and live performance environments where there's no "undo" button.
Principle 1: Do Fewer Things (But Do Them Exceptionally)
"I don't manage 20 productions simultaneously. I focus on 3-5 at a time and deliver extraordinary results."
The conventional wisdom is wrong. Being busy doesn't make you professional. Being exceptional does.
In Practice:
Choose projects based on impact and alignment, not availability
Build deep expertise rather than surface-level competence across everything
Say no to opportunities that don't serve your core mission
Design systems that prevent problems rather than manage them
Real Example: Instead of accepting every tour that comes my way, I focus on artists and productions where my expertise creates the most value—like managing Gabriel Rios's complex international logistics or OBV's large-scale opera premieres.
This isn't about working less. It's about working strategically. When Gabriel Rios said, "I rarely meet people who have that much attention to detail and at the same time are in it for the fun and the joy of it," he was describing what happens when you focus deeply instead of spreading thin.
Principle 2: Work at Your Natural Pace
"Some projects need intense focus for short bursts. Others benefit from slow, steady development. Fighting your natural rhythms wastes energy."
The entertainment industry has this bizarre idea that "urgent" and "important" are the same thing. They're not.
In Practice:
Align demanding projects with your high-energy seasons
Use natural low periods for planning and system maintenance
Build buffer time into all deadlines and commitments
Honor the difference between urgent and actually important
Real Example: I plan OBV productions around the theater season's natural rhythms—intensive rehearsal periods followed by structured recovery time, not constant crisis management.
This means saying no to the 3am venue email that could wait until morning. It means scheduling complex negotiations when you're mentally sharp, not when you're already exhausted. It means recognizing that your best creative work happens at specific times, not whenever someone else demands it.
Principle 3: Obsess Over Quality (Not Quantity)
"A perfectly executed 8-show tour creates more value than a chaotic 20-show circuit that exhausts everyone involved."
The industry's obsession with "more" is killing our craft. More shows, more venues, more complexity—but often at the expense of the quality that makes our work meaningful.
In Practice:
Measure success by outcomes and sustainability, not hours worked
Invest time in getting systems right the first time
Build relationships based on mutual respect and clear boundaries
Take pride in work that stands the test of time
Real Example: The WINGS templates I've developed aren't just functional—they're beautiful, intuitive, and actually enjoyable to use. Quality systems attract quality collaborators.
Why These Principles Work in Creative Industries
The Entertainment Paradox
Our industry demands both precision (technical requirements, timing, safety) and flexibility (creative changes, artist needs, unexpected challenges). Most productivity systems fail because they're designed for predictable office work, not the beautiful chaos of live performance.
Time Well Spent bridges this gap:
Robust systems handle the predictable elements automatically
Mental space remains available for creative and unexpected challenges
Energy reserves let you perform at your best when it really matters
Sustainable practices keep you creative and curious long-term
Tested Under Pressure
These principles have been refined through:
International tour logistics with multiple moving parts across countries
Large-scale theater productions with hundreds of people depending on coordination
Live performance environments where mistakes have immediate consequences
Creative collaborations where relationships matter as much as results
Implementation: Start With One
Don't try to implement all three principles at once. That's the old "always on" thinking in disguise.
This week, try this:
Choose one current project and apply Principle 1. Ask yourself: "If I could only do one thing exceptionally well on this project, what would it be?" Then protect that one thing fiercely.
This month:
Notice your natural energy patterns. When do you do your best creative work? When do you handle logistics most efficiently? Start aligning your tasks with these rhythms.
This quarter:
Identify one system you use regularly and invest the time to make it exceptional. Not just functional—beautiful, intuitive, enjoyable to use.
Next week, I'll share real success stories: how these principles transformed specific productions and what happened when creative professionals started working with their humanity instead of against it.
Which principle resonates most with your current situation? What's one small experiment you might try this week?
