Each day, we’re gifted 1,440 minutes (24hrs) to make a difference or impact in the lives of those around us and our very own lives.
Some of us manage those 1,440 minutes very well, while others don’t (no judgement, just stating a fact).
The difference between those who have mastered the skill of managing their time, and those who aren’t there yet, is evident in how they show up in the world…they’re the people we hear about in the news, read about in magazines and blogs, listen to on podcasts, follow on social media, and secretly admire for their accomplishments.
There is nothing “special” or abnormal about these individuals. After all, they put on their pants one leg at a time like everyone else.
But what sets them apart, is their understanding that time is just as (if not more) valuable than money, and therefore have made the decision to treat time as a commodity.
The truth is, we all have the same 24 hours in each day, but it’s in HOW we use those same 24 hours that determine each individual’s level of success.
Have you ever really stopped to analyze how you spend your time?
Especially on those days where you end the day questioning where it went, or when you find yourself wishing for just a couple more hours to get through your to-do list.
I know I have! In fact, if I’m being honest, the days I wished for time, were actually the days I “wasted” time by focusing on things that didn’t add value to me or my business…i.e. scrolling through Facebook or other social media platforms, cleaning out my inbox (though somewhat justified), and so on.
Becoming an entrepreneur has forced me to revisit my relationship with time, and has given me an appreciation for it that I never had before.
Knowing where you spend your time is part of the equation for success. If you’re not sure where you fall on the time management spectrum, I offer the following assessment and strategies to help you better leverage your time.
1. The Do-It-Yourselfer
When you’re first starting a business, it is understandable to closely manage your resources, not hiring outside help, and doing everything yourself (this is the route I took initially).
Do-it-yourselfers take on every task that deals with sales, marketing, billing, and operations, plus everything else that comes your way.
After all, the focus is on generating revenue, especially in the beginning, that can later be reinvested in hiring people and leveraging systems to help you continue to grow.
Related: 3 Time Management Pitfalls You Need To Avoid Now
However, if you don’t make that shift, you’ll find yourself stretched way too thin, and maybe even resentful of the entrepreneurial path you’ve chosen. You may even begin to feel behind, always playing catch up with servicing your clients, instead of bringing in new business.
I’m pretty sure no one who has chosen to go down this path wants to experience this.
2. The Business Leader
The business leader, on the other hand, KNOWS he/she can’t do everything his/her self. They understand their role as the visionary, the one who sees the big picture and is equipped and comfortable with being the “maestro.”
He/she is very well acquainted with their personal strengths and weakness and have no issues surrounding themselves with others who “fill in the gaps” for their weaknesses.
This type of leader is more willing to invest in themselves and their business by bringing on advisers, coaches, and assistants to handle the myriad of tasks involved in the backend of the business.
Doing so gives them the freedom to dedicate their time to finding new clients and building those relationships, while their team handles their own areas of expertise.
3. Shifting Identities
So, you’re probably wondering, “is it possible to shift from a Do-It-Yourselfer to Business Leader?”
Absolutely! In fact, I believe most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders today, start off as a do-it-yourselfer (unless they have a lot of capital in the beginning), and eventually transition into the business leader identity, once they’re ready to grow to the next level.
Regardless of which identity you’re currently operating from, you’ll want to consider including the following roles as extensions of your leadership team:
- Mindset Coach – helps you break through mental and emotional blocks that may be holding you back and keeping you from reaching higher levels of success. A Mindset Coach can also help you work through your fears about hiring help or delegating work to others.
- Business Coach – is an invaluable addition to your team, specifically because they’ve probably faced what you are currently facing and help you navigate around the unseen traps and pitfalls. They can also help analyze your backend operations and give advice for automating tasks or suggestions for who to hire next.
- Social Media Manager – serves as a total time saver (especially in this day of social media) to keep your accounts current with posts, engage your audience, and help draw in leads. They essentially help you “appear present,” allowing you to focus your time on a revenue-generating activity.
- Virtual Assistant – helps keep your business running even when you’re not around. Depending on who you hire, they can take on tasks such as managing your email and/or calendar, responding to customer inquiries, order fulfilment, updating your website, designing your graphics, etc. A good VA is well versed and competent in many different aspects of business and can really help you grow and scale.
Now, imagine if you had one of each on your team today…all working in their area of expertise to help you operate and grow your business?
How much more work could you get done during a 24-hour time period? How much faster could you grow as a leader and business owner if you weren’t stretched to the max trying to figure everything out and then implementing?
If you’re just starting out and don’t have the capital to invest in all these team members, I get it (again, I was there).
But if you’ve been in the game for a while and are still struggling to keep your head above water, I highly recommend you looking into getting a coach, or at the very least, a VA to help take some of the workloads off your shoulders, so you can focus your time on servicing existing customers and acquiring new ones.
Similar to managing money, you will absolutely need to learn how to manage time in order to increase your effectiveness and level of success and impact.
Are You A Procrastinator? Are You Tired Of Constantly Putting Things Off?
Download Your Free Guide: 7 Strategies To Overcome Procrastination
