Every project has two phases: The Setup and The Maintenance.
The Setup is high-energy. It’s building the foundation—defining goals, creating systems, and making big decisions.
The Maintenance is low-energy. It’s the routine monitoring and minor adjustments needed to keep things running.
Most people rush the Setup because it feels slow. But this is a trap.
The energy required for Maintenance is inversely proportional to the energy invested in the Setup.
If you rush the Setup, you create a messy system. Every time you return to it, you waste energy figuring out what to do next or fixing mistakes caused by poor planning.
The “extra” energy spent early on isn’t wasted; it’s invested. It buys you peace of mind later, keeping the project running smoothly without constant emergencies.
Love the grind of the setup. It’s your best defense against burnout.