A Smart Bear · Jason Cohen
articleprincipleYour non-linear problem of 90% utilization
8 October 2023Profit
Source excerpt
About A Smart BearIs everyone working very hard, all the time, and yet accomplishing 1/10th of what it seems they should? Maybe this is why.
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Apollo layer
What a founder can learn
Founder takeaway
Don’t optimize teams for near-total utilization. When every person is continuously busy, small delays and unexpected work can compound, leaving less capacity to coordinate, solve problems, and finish valuable work.
Why it matters
Busyness can look efficient while actual throughput deteriorates. Deliberately preserving slack helps a company absorb variability, unblock work, and focus on completed outcomes rather than hours occupied.
Relevant guides
Put it to work
Identify one team operating near full capacity. What work could you pause, remove, or defer this week to create breathing room—and which measure of completed customer value will show whether throughput improves?
Private notes