Make Better Use of Time to Do Better Business
By
VendorSeek
My friend is an entrepreneur and a savvy businessman. I marvel at his work ethic and success while I spend countless hours from my cubicle. How does he do it? Does he have better product than any other provider in his industry? Are his employees genetically superior to those in other companies?
He tells me his secret is making the best use of his time – not working harder, but working smarter. It seems too simple to be the man’s secret, but the more I think about it, it seems true. It is very easy to become engaged in the ‘rat race,’ we forget to take a moment to realize where we are going and the best way to get there.
What is vital?
What aspects have the biggest impact on your business? Is it customer service, the production of products, the skills of your workers, etc.? You have to define what constitutes your revenue generation. Most times, a small portion of your business is responsible for producing most of your money. Nurture that part of your business; this particular area should get the greatest amount of attention.
Make lists
What do you have to do today, this week, before the end of the month, etc.? To-do lists seem elementary for a successful businessman; yet, they are practical and effective. Ranking your list in order would be convenient, but things occur and priorities change. Place a symbol next to each task designating its priority. For instance, items with a check may need to be done today.
Don’t involve emotion
Obviously, sometimes you will not be delighted to complete a task. It is common for businesspeople to delay completing a duty based on emotion. Do not let emotion dictate what gets done. Regardless of your feelings, complete your routines and things at hand.
Big energy for big tasks
Everyone is different. Some people enjoy doing ‘brainwork’ in the morning and have more physical energy towards the late afternoon. Know yourself. What is your big task for the day? Schedule big tasks during the times you are most mentally elevated.
You cannot do it all yourself
Some executives (especially entrepreneurs) feel the need to perform a lot of tasks. Being motivated is an attribute of the successful, but it can also be a detriment to accumulating more revenue. You have to know when to delegate responsibilities. Relinquishing duties to efficient workers will grant you time to address other business matters.
No clutter
Papers can pile-up quickly. Don’t let it happen. Hosting a myriad of papers will make it more likely you will lose information and spend time looking for it. When you get a paper, read it, and make the decision to file it away or discard it.
The need for order cannot be stressed enough. Make sure your file cabinets are clearly labeled; or, if you have a paperless office, take the time to organize your file folders so you can quickly get to any file when you need it.
Things happen
Being organized and getting into a routine is great, but remember to give yourself a cushion in case things happen: you get sick, your child has a play at school, your wife wants to go to dinner with friends, etc. Do not get so organized to the point you will not accept modifications to your schedule.
Time to be selfish
Most entrepreneurs will cringe at this insight, but it is true: it is okay to schedule time for yourself. Personal time is needed by everyone. It keeps us happy and helps maintain focus on things which are most important. It may seem counterintuitive, but giving yourself time away from work will actually help you be more productive. It presents a time to take a step back and put things in perspective.
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