Getty Images for Unsplash+
Nothing kills momentum (and morale) faster than a principal who dives back into the weeds.
You told me this yourselves. Most of you said your principal keeps adding more after the vision is set. This is the number one reason projects stall.
I know this because I’ve lived it. When I was running my company, the hardest thing to do was stay out of the middle. Founders want to tinker, perfect and jump back in. They think they know best because often, they do. But what they really want, more than being right, is someone who gets it. Someone who sees what they see and can carry it forward without them.
That’s where a Chief of Staff comes in. The best ones don’t just manage projects. They get it. And that’s what keeps the founder out of the 80.
Gary Vee calls it the “clouds and dirt” philosophy: stay high on vision, stay low on execution and ignore the noise in the middle. That’s exactly why the 10-80-10 rule works.
The Rule in Practice
Here’s what 10-80-10 looks like:
Founder in at the open, team owns the middle then founder back in at the close.
The Chief of Staff is the bridge that keeps the rhythm.
The Open (first 10%): The principal is all in. They set the vision, define viability and decide if the project is worth pursuing.
The Execution (middle 80%): Belongs to the team. They execute, make decisions and keep momentum moving forward. The principal stays out. This is where projects can go sideways if that boundary isn’t protected.
The Close (last 10%): The principal re-enters to review, refine and give the final sign-off.
Keeping the principal out of the 80 is where the Chief of Staff comes in.
The Chief of Staff’s Role
The 10-80-10 rule sounds simple. It’s not. Think of yourself as the rumble strip, there to jolt your principal back on course before they swerve into the 80 where they don’t belong.
Here’s how you hold the rule:
Be the green dotted line. You are present throughout and anchored in your principal’s vision, tracking the team’s progress and making sure execution stays aligned with the “why.” The best Chiefs make it their job to truly understand their principal’s core motivation for the objective. If you don’t know it, ask. Over time you’ll build this muscle and your principal will trust you to carry the middle without them.
Unblock the middle. Stay close to the team. Spot blockers early, clear them quickly and keep momentum moving without dragging the principal in.
Keep the principal informed, but out. When they want to tinker (and they will), give them a sideline view instead. Scheduled check-ins and curated updates satisfy curiosity while preventing derailment.
Engineer a smooth landing. Guide the project back into the close with clarity and polish. The final review should feel crisp, not chaotic.
You are the glue. Without you, the principal drifts into the 80 and things get bumpy. With you, they stay focused where they add the most value and the business moves forward.
Give this a go and let me know how it works. If you keep your principal in the open and the close, the middle will take care of itself.
Affiliate Link Disclaimer: Some of the links in this email are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. So far, my grand total is $0.53 (thank you to the kind soul who bought that book). I’ll try not to spend it all in one place.