The M.A.D.E. Formula for Gaining Margin

If you suddenly had extra margin in your schedule, what would you use it for?

Imagine a free hour every day, a free day every week—what would you focus on? What are the top three things that, if you invested your time, would yield a powerful harvest?

These aren’t just hypothetical questions. They’re the key to knowing why you need to create margin in the first place. Because once you know why you need more time, you can start working backwards to make it a reality.

This is where I want to introduce a concept I call the M.A.D.E. Formula. It’s about being intentional with what you want more of, and then strategically creating the space to make it happen.

Step 1: Multiply – Focus on What You Want to Do More Of

Start with this essential question: What do you need to multiply in your life or business?

• Is it creating more connections with clients? Building stronger relationships?
• Is it time to innovate? Dive deeper into strategy and vision?
• Is it nurturing personal growth? Investing in learning and development?

Whatever your answer, these are your multipliers. These are the activities that will bring the biggest harvest. By identifying what you want to multiply, you’re defining your purpose for creating margin. Without a clear purpose, it’s easy to lose focus and end up right back where you started—overwhelmed and reactive.

Once you know what you want to do more of, it’s time to free up the space to make it happen. That’s where the rest of the M.A.D.E. formula comes in: Automate, Delegate, and Eliminate.

Step 2: Automate – Set It and Forget It

Look at your current tasks and ask yourself, What can I put on autopilot?

Automation is a powerful tool for multiplying your time. When you automate repetitive tasks, you create systems that work for you, not against you. Here are some examples:

• Email templates: Save time by creating templates for common responses.
• Scheduling tools: Use tools like Calendly to handle meeting scheduling without the back-and-forth.
• Project management systems: Keep everything organized and in motion without manual updates.

Automation doesn’t replace human interaction; it amplifies it. By freeing up your mental space, you can focus on those higher-impact tasks you identified in the Multiply step.

Step 3: Delegate – Share the Load

Now, ask yourself, What can I hand off to someone else?

Delegation is all about creating more margin by letting go of tasks that don’t require your unique skill set. As a leader, your time is valuable. Handing off responsibilities like managing your inbox, scheduling, or even creating presentations can free up hours each week. Here’s where a skilled Executive Assistant can be a game-changer.

When you delegate effectively, you’re not just offloading work—you’re creating a partnership that allows you to focus on what matters most. By sharing the load, you empower others while elevating your own impact.

Step 4: Eliminate – Cut the Clutter

Finally, consider What can I simply let go of?

Sometimes the best way to gain margin is to cut tasks or projects that no longer serve your goals. This is about ruthless prioritization. Look at your commitments and ask:

• Is this really necessary?
• Does this move me closer to my goals?
• Would there be any negative impact if I stopped doing this?

Eliminating unnecessary tasks can be hard, but it’s essential for making room for the things that truly matter. Think of it as pruning back a plant—by cutting away what’s no longer needed, you create the conditions for growth.

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The M.A.D.E. Formula in Action

Once you know what you want to multiply, you can use Automate, Delegate, and Eliminate to strategically create the space for it. Here’s how it might look in practice:

1. Multiply the activities that will yield the biggest impact if you do them more often.
2. Automate the tasks that don’t require a personal touch.
3. Delegate the tasks that can be handled by someone else.
4. Eliminate anything that isn’t aligned with your primary goals.

The M.A.D.E. formula isn’t just a time-management tool; it’s a mindset shift. By thinking about what you want more of, you’re shifting your focus from survival mode to growth mode. You’re making a commitment to focus on what matters most, and then creating the structure to support it.

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Ready to Make Room for What Matters?

Creating margin isn’t just about working less; it’s about working smarter. It’s about investing in the things that will multiply your impact and bring a harvest in your business and life. At Dream Support, we help leaders like you find the support they need to implement the M.A.D.E. formula—whether it’s automating repetitive tasks, delegating work to a skilled EA, or freeing up time for your highest priorities.

So, what do you want more of? Take a few minutes to reflect, and let’s talk about how we can make it happen together.

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