How Leonie Dawson Created a $14 Million Business While Working Just 10 Hours a Week
Leonie Dawson has redefined what success looks like. While most entrepreneurs grind away for long hours, she has built a $14 million business while working just 10 hours a week.
Her secret? Ruthless prioritization, strategic focus, and an unwavering commitment to only doing what truly matters.
“When I started my business, I didn’t have the option to work full-time on it,” Leonie told me. “I had to structure it around my life, which turned out to be a huge advantage—it forced me to focus only on what truly mattered.”
In a world that glorifies hustle culture, Leonie’s approach is a refreshing reminder that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of burnout. So, how does she manage to maintain an enviable work-life balance while running a wildly profitable business? Here’s what she had to say.
Eliminating Busywork and Focusing on What Counts
Leonie’s approach to work is incredibly intentional. From the start, she never had unlimited hours to pour into her business. “I was working a full-time job for the Australian government when I started,” she told me. “I had to squeeze my business into whatever time I had available.”
Even after leaving her job, she didn’t expand her hours. “When I became a mother, I wanted to be present with my kids. That meant I had to be crystal clear on what actually moved the needle in my business and eliminate everything else.”
Her biggest piece of advice? Identify the essential tasks that generate revenue and impact—and eliminate the distractions. And this is how she does it:
The Two-Hour Workweek Test
A game-changing exercise that Leonie swears by is what she calls the two-hour workweek test. When I asked how she determines her top priorities, she shared this simple but effective method:
“If you only had two hours this week to work, what tasks would you complete to bring in money?” she asked me. “That’s what you should be focusing on every single week, regardless of how much time you actually have.”
Leonie even keeps a reminder on her desk with her absolute must-do tasks. “It forces you to cut the fluff and focus on what really matters,” she said.
The Power of Saying No
For many entrepreneurs, saying yes to every opportunity can feel like the only way to grow. But Leonie Dawson has mastered the art of saying no, and it’s one of the secrets to her ultra-streamlined business.
“I always ask myself: If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to?” she explained. “Saying yes to the wrong things might mean saying no to time with my family, my creative projects, or even my energy. That’s a cost I’m not willing to pay.”
This principle extends to business opportunities as well. “I don’t do speaking gigs, I don’t fly to conferences, and I don’t spend endless hours on social media. I focus only on simple, scalable, and aligned strategies.”
Building a Thriving Business With a Minimal Team
Unlike most entrepreneurs who scale past seven figures, Leonie Dawson doesn’t rely on a large team. In fact, her entire business operates with fewer total hours than a single full-time employee.
“I’ve run a million-dollar business with just one assistant before,” she told me. “Now, I have a three-person team, but collectively, we still work fewer hours than one full-time employee.”
Her success proves that lean business operations and smart automation can replace the need for a large staff, allowing for more profit and less stress.
The Brilliant Biz & Life Academy
Leonie isn’t just applying these strategies in her own life—she’s teaching thousands of entrepreneurs how to create businesses that don’t lead to burnout through Leonie Dawson’s Brilliant Biz & Life Academy.
Inside the academy, members get access to over 100 courses, templates, checklists, and live workshops that help them streamline their businesses while enjoying more freedom.
“I built the academy so people could get real, fluff-free guidance on how to create a business that supports their life—not a business that takes over their life,” Leonie said.
Having been a member for two years, I can confidently say that Leonie Dawson’s Brilliant Biz & Life Academy has transformed the way I structure my business.
The lessons I’ve learned have helped me work less while increasing my income—something most entrepreneurs dream of achieving. For instance, her Work Less, Earn More course is an absolute steal at just $100 (and also available inside the academy)!
The Key to Success Without the Burnout
Leonie Dawson’s journey proves that you don’t have to sacrifice your time, health, or personal life to build a thriving business. By focusing on revenue-generating tasks, saying no to distractions, automating where possible, and keeping her team small, she has achieved a level of success that many aspire to—without the stress.
Her philosophy? Work smarter, not harder.
If you want to learn directly from Leonie, I highly recommend checking out Leonie Dawson’s Brilliant Biz & Life Academy. For just $497, you get access to resources worth over $10,000.
I’ve renewed my membership twice already myself!
Interested? You can find more details about Leonie Dawson’s Brilliant Biz & Life Academy here.
Oh, and if you decide to sign up, use my link and reach out to me afterward—I’ll happily send you a $250 voucher for store credit in my shop, which you can use for my courses and business products! (It’s a store credit voucher for $50 if you get one of the standalone courses.)
