How the Top 1% Work Less, Win More, and Think Bigger

The Secret Sauce Podcast

What if you could accomplish 15 hours of work in just 8 hours? According to mortgage industry veteran Todd Scrima, this isn't just possible—it's essential for survival in today's rapidly evolving business landscape.
With 30 years at the helm of Summit Funding and a track record of coaching over 5,000 professionals, Todd brings a unique perspective on productivity that challenges conventional wisdom. He dismisses the myth that highly productive people have everything perfectly figured out. Rather, he describes high achievement as "more controlled chaos" where results accelerate but complexity remains—you're simply moving your boat downriver faster.
Todd traces his productivity obsession back to college when he balanced a full-time sales job with a heavy course load, forcing him to maximize every spare moment. This early discipline shaped his approach to business: work intensely to build knowledge capital early, then strategically leverage that foundation later. The podcast explores how this philosophy translates into practical strategies like combining activities (walking meetings that accomplish exercise, relationship-building, and business simultaneously) and strategic delegation.
Perhaps most compelling is Todd's insight into the evolution of professional value. He outlines three distinct eras: the pressure sales of the 70s-80s, the consultative approach of the 90s-2000s, and today's strategy-focused era. This progression mirrors broader industry transformations, with Todd revealing his current work with engineers developing complete automation of the loan process. His message is clear—professionals must elevate their thinking from task execution to strategic problem-solving to stay relevant.
The conversation offers practical tactics for this transition, from leveraging overseas virtual assistants to adopting "helicopter thinking" that provides a thousand-foot view of your business. Throughout, Todd emphasizes that discomfort and risk-taking are not just inevitable but essential components of growth.
Ready to transform your approach to time and productivity? Listen now and discover how to work smarter, not just harder, in a world where strategic thinking trumps mere execution every time.

Chapters

1. Getting More Done in Less Time (00:00:00)

2. Todd Scrima's Journey to Success (00:07:42)

3. The Evolution of Strategic Business Thinking (00:19:49)

4. Leveraging Virtual Assistants for Growth (00:26:54)

5. The Future of Innovation and Delegation (00:36:46)

6. Mentorship and Taking Strategic Risks (00:43:05)