In today's episode, I'm joined by executive productivity coach and WSJ bestselling author, Demir Bentley. We dive deep into hustle culture, burnout, and how to truly win your week. You'll learn how working less (yes, really) can lead to more sustainable success, especially if you're building a service-based business. Demir shares the exact steps he used to transition from burnout to balance while growing a thriving business.

We discuss why most people don’t plan their week effectively and what you can do about it. Demir shares his full “Winning the Week” method and we explore how strategy, intentionality, and sustainable planning create space for the kind of business and life you actually want. If you're looking to grow your business without burning out, this episode is for you.

Demir Bentley is a top executive productivity coach and the co-founder of Life Hack Method. He’s the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Winning the Week and helps high-performing entrepreneurs and coaches work less while achieving more. After experiencing burnout in his former high-stakes Wall Street career, Demir completely transformed how he worked—and now he helps others do the same.

He’s guided thousands of entrepreneurs to build high-performance habits without sacrificing their health or happiness. His systems are especially powerful for entrepreneurs who are scaling their businesses while navigating the complexities of time, energy, and output.

• Hustle culture is not the answer—it’s the problem. Real success isn’t about more hours, it’s about more leverage and intention. Demir’s story is a powerful reminder that sustainability is the key to high performance. Burnout is not required for building a successful business—it’s a red flag.
• Planning your week is your number one productivity superpower, especially as a business owner managing both client work and business growth. If you’re not hitting all the necessary “bases” in your weekly planning, you’re already behind. The right planning system creates consistency, energy, and momentum that fuels long-term growth.

Burnout isn’t just about a busy calendar—it’s about a broken belief system. As entrepreneurs, we often feel pressure to equate effort with value. But the truth is, working smarter—not harder—is the real game-changer. Hustle culture is built on outdated myths about worth, productivity, and success.

Social media glorifies hustle and overwork, especially in the online business world. But Demir’s approach is a fresh, empowering alternative—one that allows business owners to scale with clarity instead of chaos.

Many entrepreneurs believe they can simply outwork the competition. But at what cost? If you want to build a business you’ll sustain for 10, 20, or 30 years, the hustle model isn’t the answer. Most people burn out right before they begin reaping the benefits of their hard-earned momentum.

This conversation reframes the hustle: sustainability isn’t optional—it’s essential. If you want to scale your business while protecting your energy and creativity, working fewer but more intentional hours is the way forward.

Most entrepreneurs only plan their week partially—they focus on client calls or content creation but miss deeper strategy work. Demir’s Winning the Week method is all about creating a repeatable weekly system that hits every area of your life and business.

When Demir implemented this method, he cut his workweek in half—from 90 hours to just over 40—without losing momentum. This isn’t about doing less; it’s about planning better. That mindset shift is business owners juggling business growth, marketing, and client delivery.