Time Is Of The Essence

What’s the one thing in this world that once lost can never again be found? Time.

It’s a precious commodity and your business shouldn’t be sucking it up like it has no value.

If you are still in the position in your business to need or want to provide your services to your clients, then time is very important because it’s really what you are selling when you have no products. But even if you are not personally performing the services your business provides, your time should be at the top of your list of valuable things.

Time management is often an issue with people in any type of business or business size. It is especially important, though, to small business owners. You may or may not be one of the many that work more a week now than when working as an employee. That just plain stinks and shouldn’t be the case unless possibly when bootstrapping in a start-up phase.

There are three things that cause this and really need to be worked on. First, you could possibly be wearing too many hats.

Again, even if you are a 1 person show and want to stay that way, I’m sure there are things you could hand off to a very professional $10 to $20 an hour virtual assistant to shave 5 to 10 hours off of your week. Regardless of how many employees you have, if you are doing something that someone else can and should truly be doing, then find a way to make it happen.

The second time eater is interruptions. Emails, phone calls, long useless meetings, people barging into your office. All things that really need to be controlled. You’d be amazed how much time gets wasted by these items.

The third and last time management issue is kind of tied to the second one. Multitasking is seen by many as the ultimate skill. In actuality, it’s usually a key factor in things taking way too long to do. So guys, when a woman brags about being able to multitask better than you, don’t feel bad just think that if you tried it, you would be worse off.

By the way, even though this is something women are better at, ladies, you shouldn’t do it either. Especially during your work day.

The way you schedule your day and your week is paramount to your sanity and success as a business owner. Time management should be an ultimate goal to get more done in less time. Part by stopping interruption and scheduling less per day. And part by not wearing so many hats in the business.