Working longer hours doesn't necessarily lead to better results. According to accountant and author John Briggs, the key to higher productivity is working in focused blocks, taking genuine recovery breaks, and measuring outcomes instead of time at a desk. 

A CPA with a master's degree in tax, John built Insight Tax from a solo practice into a multi-million-dollar firm with almost 300 employees. After implementing his 3.3 Rule, the business grew 492% while averaging just 42-hour work weeks during tax season. 

John explains the science behind cognitive load, why scrolling your phone isn't a real break at all, and how restorative pauses can improve focus, profitability and wellbeing. He also shares practical advice for leaders wanting to shift their teams from measuring hours worked to measuring meaningful results. 

Takeaways 
Working smarter beats working longer when results matter most every day. 
Recovery breaks improve focus, productivity, wellbeing, and long-term business performance consistently. 
Measure employee outcomes instead of hours spent sitting behind desks daily. 
Scrolling your phone rarely provides the restorative break your brain actually needs. 
The best recovery break often starts with an unplugged walk outside alone. 
Focus deeply, recover intentionally, then return with renewed clarity and energy. 
Redefining personal success creates happier leaders and stronger, more sustainable businesses together. 
Productivity rises when leaders trust people instead of monitoring every hour. 

Follow John Briggs 

https://therealjohnbriggs.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealjohnbriggs/ 

John’s book 
Author’s book Take Breaks, Work Better: Measure Impact, Not Hours, and Transform Your Profitability https://link.amazon/B0bpQgyXA or https://takebreaksworkbetter.com/ 

Books recommended 
Rich Relationships: Create a Million-Dollar Network for Your Business  https://link.amazon/B0a82yqB4  

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners 

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/ 

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO 
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. 
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. 
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life) 

Follow me: 
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth 

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Working longer hours doesn't necessarily lead to better results. According to accountant and author John Briggs, the key to higher productivity is working in focused blocks, taking genuine recovery breaks, and measuring outcomes instead of time at a desk.&nbsp;
A CPA with a master's degree in tax, John built Insight Tax from a solo practice into a multi-million-dollar firm with almost 300 employees. After implementing his 3.3 Rule, the business grew 492% while averaging just 42-hour work weeks during tax season.&nbsp;
John explains the science behind cognitive load, why scrolling your phone isn't a real break at all, and how restorative pauses can improve focus, profitability and wellbeing. He also shares practical advice for leaders wanting to shift their teams from measuring hours worked to measuring meaningful results.&nbsp;
Takeaways&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Working smarter beats working longer when results matter most every day.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Recovery breaks improve focus, productivity, wellbeing, and long-term business performance consistently.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Measure employee outcomes instead of hours spent sitting behind desks daily.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Scrolling your phone rarely provides the restorative break your brain actually needs.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The best recovery break often starts with an unplugged walk outside alone.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Focus deeply, recover intentionally, then return with renewed clarity and energy.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Redefining personal success creates happier leaders and stronger, more sustainable businesses together.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Productivity rises when leaders trust people instead of monitoring every hour.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Follow John Briggs&nbsp;
<a href="https://therealjohnbriggs.com/">https://therealjohnbriggs.com/</a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealjohnbriggs/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealjohnbriggs/</a>&nbsp;
John&rsquo;s book&nbsp; Author&rsquo;s book Take Breaks, Work Better: Measure Impact, Not Hours, and Transform Your Profitability <a href="https://link.amazon/B0bpQgyXA">https://link.amazon/B0bpQgyXA</a> or <a href="https://takebreaksworkbetter.com/">https://takebreaksworkbetter.com/</a>&nbsp;
Books recommended&nbsp; Rich Relationships: Create a Million-Dollar Network for Your Business&nbsp; <a href="https://link.amazon/B0a82yqB4">https://link.amazon/B0a82yqB4</a>&nbsp; 
Watch the episode on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners">https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners</a>&nbsp;
Newsletter &ndash; each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/</a>&nbsp;
Books &ndash; Learn more about our books&nbsp;<a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/made-to-thrive/"> Made to Thrive:</a> The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded/">Onboarded:&nbsp;</a>How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded-for-managers-book/">Onboarded for Managers:</a> Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/bigger-isnt-better/">Bigger isn&rsquo;t Better, Better is Better:</a>&nbsp;Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)&nbsp;
Follow me:&nbsp; on <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles">https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles</a>&nbsp; on <a href="https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth">https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth</a>&nbsp;
Enjoying the show? Leave a review&nbsp;

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.

The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.
The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

The Evolution Partners

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.

We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.
We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.