Great CEOs Are Lazy: How Top Leaders Drive Results by Doing Less – Jim Schleckser

Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder

In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave is joined by Jim Schleckser—founder and CEO of The CEO Project and author of Great CEOs Are Lazy. Jim shares leadership strategies that help executives cut through busywork and focus on what really drives results.

The conversation explores how to apply the theory of constraints to leadership, why great CEOs zero in on the “kink in the hose,” and practical tools like the “not-do list” and the delegation ladder. Jim explains how leaders can spend 30–40% of their time on their highest-impact activities, delegate more effectively to build organizational muscle, and craft a “mafia offer” that customers can’t refuse.

The discussion also covers succession planning and the unique challenges of family businesses, plus some lighter but highly practical advice on professional entertaining—from a sommelier trick to choosing drinks that align with your brand.

For more of Jim’s insights, check out his books Great CEOs Are Lazy and Professional Drinking, as well as The CEO Project podcast.

About Our Guest:

Jim Schleckser is an accomplished leader, entrepreneur, and CEO coach with extensive experience across diverse industries. He is the Founder & CEO of The CEO Project, a renowned executive coaching company specializing in high-revenue entrepreneurs. Jim offers a distinctive CEO coaching program that combines peer group discussions with personalized ne-on-one coaching sessions led by former CEOs. He advocates for the concept of the ”Lazy CEO”, emphasizing efficient delegation and time management as essential traits for successful leadership. Jim employs diagnostic and strategic tools to identify business constraints and provide tailored advice to CEOs and offers a curated advisory board, providing CEOs with unbiased and valuable guidance.

Jim hosts The CEO Project Podcast, a, a successful podcast, focusing on entrepreneurship and CEO leadership, providing valuable insights to a wide audience. He is also the author of two impactful books: Great CEO’s are Lazy and Professional Drinking: A Spirited Guide to Wine, Cocktails and Confident Business Entertaining.

About the Host:

Dave Bookbinder is known as an expert in business valuation and he is the person that business owners and entrepreneurs reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries.

Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers.

He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.”

Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions.

He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries.

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----more----Subscribe to Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with your network and leave a review—it helps more business owners and advisors discover the show!