The Competitive Edge Newsletter

 Edition 43

Why Just "Manage" Your Time When You Can "Own" It?

Do you treat your time like it belongs to everyone but you? Why not decide today to OWN it!

Your time is really your time. It's not a commodity that you are holding on behalf of your demanding clients, staff or personal contacts. Only you can decide whom to give it to. You see, your time is an asset. What value are you placing on each hour of your day? Here's some tips to enable you to reclaim your time...

Don't answer your mobile unless you are really available. Your mobile should be used for your convenience first. So don't answer it when you are focussed on activities that will improve your business. The same applies to answering your emails - do it when it suits you and your business.

                                                                      TIP: On your voicemail indicate that you will be returning

                                                                               the call shortly - you don't want to lose business! And

                                                                               have the message upbeat and friendly.

Delegate your time by setting up a weekly schedule. Have specific days of the week and time frames for marketing, sales, admin, clients, training, etc. (Remember, to work on your business daily, not just in it). The key to setting time boundaries is to respect and stick to them. So learn to say "No" or "Later".

                                                                        TIP: Let people know your schedule - you may be surprised

                                                                                how they will also respect and work with it.

Don't take on other people's problems!  "Time owners" know which problems are their responsibility and which ones are not. Don't spend your valuable time solving challenges that do not belong to you - you will not only be giving away your time, you will be robbing someone of a valuable learning moment.

                                                                       TIP: Next time someone presents a problem, ask them questions

                                                                               to help them solve it on their own. More often than not

                                                                               they have the solution - they just need affirmation.**

Know your ROTI (Return On Time Invested). In many businesses up to 80% of business will come from 20% of clients. So, become familiar with the high ROTI in your business and focus your available time and energy there.

                                                                       TIP: Delegate activities with a low ROTI.

Stay Present. I can always tell when someone has full ownership of their time as they are fully present to me. Their mind isn't wandering off in some other direction that has nothing to do with the business at hand. They are focussed and 100% attentive to our discussion.

                                                                       TIP: Tomorrow keep a post-it-note on your desk and when you're

                                                                                in meetings. Track how often you lapse into the past or future

                                                                               with a tick. (You might be surprised how many ticks you get!)

                                                                               Each day, aim for less ticks than the day before. Do this for

                                                                               three weeks to program in a more focussed pattern of thinking.

And finally, when you leave your workplace, leave your work there too... Your friends and family deserve your best, not your leftovers.

** I recommend a great book on this matter - "The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey"

_____________________________________________________________________________Quote of the Month______

"Lack of success is the fine we pay for parking too long in our comfort zone."

Anonymous

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