Why “One Person” Is All You Need

If you’ve ever run a business or even thought about starting one, you’ve probably heard a lot of talk about building a “team.” And sure, having a team can be great—if you have the resources, the patience, and the desire to manage people. But what if that’s not you? What if the idea of managing a team feels more like a burden than a blessing?

Ryan’s approach challenges the conventional wisdom that says you need a bunch of full-time employees to run a successful business. In fact, he argues that for many entrepreneurs, having a full-time team can be more stressful and less profitable. Instead, Ryan advocates for a lean approach: hire freelancers or agencies on a per-project basis to handle the tasks that are outside your wheelhouse.

A Lean and Mean Business Machine

Ryan used to have a full-time team, and he admits it was “soul-sucking.” The constant pressure to make payroll and the management headaches took the joy out of his business. Now, he’s streamlined his operations. He hasn’t had a full-time employee in over 17 months, and he loves the freedom it brings. There’s no managing people’s schedules or worrying about employee benefits. Instead, he simply pays for tasks completed. It’s a stress-free way to get things done without the long-term commitment.

How does he find the right people? And more importantly, how does he manage them without actually managing them? That’s part of what Ryan teaches in One Person Empire. It’s all about leveraging the right talent when you need it, without the ongoing responsibility of full-time employment.

Three Hours a Day: The Sweet Spot

Now, here’s where Ryan really flips the script on traditional business advice. He believes that you can build a six-figure (or even seven-figure) business by focusing on just three hours of work a day. But there’s a catch—it’s about focused work. We’re not talking about three hours of scrolling through social media or getting lost in a rabbit hole of “research.” It’s three hours of pulling the biggest levers in your business.

Ryan starts his day at 8 am and is usually done by 11 am. After that, he has the freedom to do what he wants—work out, spend time with his family, take meetings, or even take the rest of the day off. The idea is to concentrate your efforts on the activities that truly drive growth, whether that’s creating products, marketing, or building strategic relationships.

Focus Over Frantic Hustle

So why three hours? Why not the typical 8-hour (or 10, or 12-hour) workday? Ryan argues that most of the work we do in a full day is actually low-impact. We get caught up in busywork, distractions, and tasks that don’t really move the needle. By compressing your work into a focused three-hour block, you force yourself to prioritize. It’s about quality over quantity—working smarter, not harder.

Think about it: how much of your day is spent on things that genuinely grow your business? When you hone in on those key activities and cut the fluff, you not only become more productive but also more effective. This laser-focused approach is what Ryan teaches in One Person Empire.

Six Figures a Year (Or Even a Month): The Realistic Approach

Alright, let’s talk numbers. Ryan sets a realistic financial goal for his students, aiming for that sweet spot between $250,000 and $3 million in annual revenue. Why this range? Because, in his experience, it’s where most entrepreneurs find the highest level of happiness and financial freedom. It’s enough to live comfortably, invest back into your business, and enjoy life without the pressure of scaling to multi-million-dollar revenues that often come with higher expenses and stress.

And here’s the kicker: it’s not about how much you make, but how much you keep. Many entrepreneurs chase top-line revenue, but Ryan focuses on the bottom line. He’d rather have a business that generates $1 million in revenue with $700k in profit than one that makes $5 million with the same profit margin. Less complexity, fewer headaches, more freedom.

With the One Person Empire approach, you strip away the unnecessary—no bloated teams, no massive overheads. What you get is a lean, profitable business that doesn’t require you to be glued to your desk all day.

Why This Works

1. High-Leverage Activities: Ryan teaches you how to identify and focus on the activities that have the biggest impact on your business. Whether it’s product creation, marketing, or building strategic partnerships, the goal is to spend your time where it matters most.

2. Freedom and Flexibility: Working just three hours a day gives you the freedom to design your life. You’re not tied to a desk, and you can invest time in other passions, spend more time with family, or simply enjoy life.

3. Lean and Profitable: Without the overhead of a full-time team or a physical office, you can keep your expenses low and your profit margins high.

4. Freelancer Power: By hiring freelancers or agencies for specific tasks, you get the best of both worlds: high-quality work without the long-term commitment of full-time employment. This allows you to scale up or down based on your business needs without the usual HR headaches.

5. Simplicity Over Complexity: Ryan’s approach is all about keeping things simple. Complexity kills businesses. By focusing on a few key areas, you can grow your business without the overwhelm that often comes with scaling.

Is One Person Empire Right for You?

One Person Empire is perfect for those who:

• Want to build a business that fits into their life, not the other way around
• Are tired of the hustle culture that leaves them burnt out
• Prefer working smarter, not harder
• Want to avoid the stress and complexity of managing a large team

What You’ll Learn

While the course covers many aspects of building a lean business, expect to learn how to:

• Identify the high-leverage activities that drive growth
• Streamline your operations to fit into a three-hour workday
• Find and manage freelancers or agencies effectively
• Build a business model that prioritizes profitability over top-line revenue

Final Thoughts: Building a Business That Supports Your Life

Ryan Lee’s One Person Empire isn’t about making millions overnight or creating a business empire that takes over the world. It’s about building a business that supports your life, not the other way around. It’s for those who want to work hard, but smartly, focusing on what truly matters.

If you’re looking for a more balanced approach to entrepreneurship—one that allows you to build a profitable business without sacrificing your personal life—then One Person Empire might just be the roadmap you’ve been searching for. It’s not about less work; it’s about better work. And in a world that glorifies the grind, that’s a refreshing change of pace.

Ready to build a business that fits your life, rather than squeezing your life around your business? One Person Empire might be your next best step.