Steve
think about your take off roll
to gain speed what do you do? open the throttle sound familiar?
to leave the ground, you.....wait for it.....pull back on stick....
OK, OK. more powerful types will fly themselves off as more speed starts generating sufficient lift.
increase RPM by 100 ? i don't recall. haven't flown an SEP without a wobbly prop for a while now. I think of manifold inches and turbine RPM.
perhaps to help you think about energy management you should think of Vx and Vy. Best rate of climb and best angle of climb.......and then you have cruise climb. all with different power and attitude settings.