Last week, we shared that we’re going to talk just business, and about building that most important foundation. The foundation of your business is called mastery. In mastery there are four areas to pay attention to and master. One is time, one is money, one is delivery, and the final is destination. Today, we’re going to go right into time mastery, because time is money. It’s a cliché and a cliché for a reason, because it makes sense.
If you don’t properly, effectively, and intentionally manage yourself and your time, you’re blowing it. You’re leaving money on the table. This area must be mastered. If you do not master your time, everything else is going to fall by the wayside. I’m going to share five tips to become conscious and master, so you can become more effective with your time.
Number one, there’s a great book called, Eat the Frog. Eat the Frog, is taking care of the most important task first. For many of us, there might be a difficult call we need to make, somebody we need to speak to, unfortunately, we usually avoid it, because we really don’t want to go there. We leave it for the end of the day. If we’re doing that, it’s weighing on our mind and shoulders all day long, and it’s taking you off your A game. No matter what it is, no matter how difficult it is, make sure you do that one thing first.
Number two, create a color coordinated block calendar. Block out specific tasks throughout your week, and throughout your day. What time are you going to answer emails, phone calls, and return them? What time of day are you going to be making prospecting calls? What time of day, and what day, are you going to be having your team meetings? Create specific hourly blocks, block them out in a different color, and add those specific tasks. Most importantly, when you create this calendar, don’t forget to block out time for yourself. Every morning, before the day starts, make sure you block out some time for yourself, to get set, in addition to creating time for health and fitness, and spending time with your loved ones.
Number three is to apply the four D’s. The first one is delegate. If you personally don’t have to do it, delegate it to someone else, to get it done for you. Number two, defer it. If it doesn’t have to be done now, defer it to a later time or date. Number three, most importantly, if it’s yours, do it, get it done. Number four is sometimes we have things on our list, that just, as we look at them, are not that important to producing an ROI. In that case, just dump it, drop it off the list.
Number four, is to learn how to say no. Unfortunately, there’s many people who have a hard time saying no. They say yes to everything, and everybody, because they’re pleasers. If you are doing that, if you are one of those, you are blowing it. You’re saying yes to something begrudgingly. When that person walks away, you’re thinking, “Ah, I really didn’t want to do that”. You’ve taken too much on by putting tasks on your plate, and you’re simply scattering your time and effectiveness.
Number five, and most important, be present in the moment. I can’t tell you how many times leaders have rushed to have a conversation with someone on their team, and they were thinking about what they had to do next. If you have ever done that, and the other person didn’t get what you were explaining to them, it’s not their fault, it’s yours. Be present in the conversation you’re in. Be clear, concise, and make sure they got it, this way you will not have to go back, and explain that same thing a second time.
Master these five areas, be effective, intentional with your time, and you will create more space, more time, more intentionalism, and most importantly, at the end of the year, more money.
Speaking of which, next week we’re going to tackle money mastery, because you need to master your dollars. If you need any more assistance in any of these areas, feel free to reach out.