In a recent LinkedIn post, Tom Wood discusses how hiring an executive assistant helped him manage a demanding schedule and become more present at home. This article reports on Wood’s reflections in the post; it is not written by him.
“I spent years thinking I didn’t need an EA. Turns out I was very wrong.”
From constant activity to more structure
Wood describes a routine filled with work, travel, meetings, training and family commitments. He says he had accepted a degree of chaos as inevitable, while recognizing that he struggled to keep everything organized. He also suggests that this challenge is familiar among founders he works with.
According to Wood, support from Tom Stokes changed how he manages those demands. Travel arrangements are handled, time is protected and fewer details need to be held in Wood’s memory. He credits that structure with helping him feel more organized and show up better both professionally and personally.
The value Wood sees in delegation
Wood’s account presents the executive assistant role as practical support with effects beyond scheduling. In his view, having someone manage logistics and guard time can reduce the mental load that accompanies a crowded calendar. The post does not quantify those effects, but Wood describes them as meaningful in his own experience.
“Travel gets sorted, time gets protected and I don’t have to carry quite so much around in my head.”
That shift, Wood says, has also given him more room to be present with his family. He identifies that change as especially important, placing the benefits of the role in the context of home life as well as work.
A recommendation rooted in personal experience
Wood directs his message to founders who believe they do not need this kind of help. He says the support has brought substantial value by helping him address the disorder he had come to accept. His post is a personal endorsement, grounded in the difference he says he has experienced since Stokes joined him.
“It’s also meant I’m more present when I’m at home, which matters more to me than anything.”
Wood also acknowledges that delegation remains a work in progress. His closing line—“Still learning to delegate, but aren’t we all!”—adds a qualification to the recommendation: bringing in support may help, but making use of it involves an ongoing adjustment.
As Tom Wood notes, his experience has changed both the organization of his working life and his availability at home. The post makes a straightforward case for founders to reconsider whether handling every detail themselves is serving them well.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Tom Wood on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on November 5, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →