Having trouble getting it all done? We've all been there. Managing your time isn't easy, especially for creative people. But before you use that as an excuse, check out these tips about getting more done in the same amount of time.
You are not the boss of me. Surely you remember this great line from when you were 6 or 7 years old? (I heard it from my son on Saturday). YOU are in charge of your time - nobody else. You have to be RUTHLESS with your time if you really want to be get more done in a day. In this spirit, here are a few tips for you to try...
1. Re-think the use of your cell phone. My phone rings/beeps/texts/emails 50 times a day but I probably answer it about 5 times a day. It's not because I don't want to talk/text/email the other 45 times; it's just that if I do, I'll never get any actual WORK done. We've probably all experienced a day where we felt busy but seemed to get nothing accomplished. Chances are it was a day we spent every 10 minutes answering the phone and emails etc. You don't need to jump every time you beep - even though you may think you do. If you're really honest, most every call, even from a prospective customer, can wait a half a day to be answered.
2. Focus time is your friend. When was the last time you concentrated on one task exclusively for 2 hours? Yes, I'm talkin' no music, no background TV, no phone, no emails - nothin' honey. I won't lie and say it's easy. But it is SO SO SO effective. In my own experience and when I study my clients, I find multi-tasking simply doesn't work as well as blocking out time for specific tasks. I don't think our brains work as well when we try to do too much. Here's how it works for me. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I block out 10 am - 12 pm. During these 2 hours, I turn off my phone and internet and concentrate on new products I'm developing for designers. I actually turn these 3 days into a series of blocks. You might look at this and say, Jane, you really only work about 4 hours a day! And you 'd be right. But I guarantee you I get more done than most people do in a typical 8 hour day - when I am truly disciplined with my time.
A Day with Focus Time
6 am - 7 am 6:45 - 7:15 check email
7 am - 8 am breakfast, kids
8 am - 9 am workout
9 am - 10 am workout, shower, straighten up
10 am - 11 am FOCUS TIME
11 am - 12 pm FOCUS TIME
12 pm - 1 pm check email, lunch
1 pm - 2 pm client call
2 pm - 3 pm client call
3 pm - 4 pm check email, straighten up house
4 pm - 5 pm pick up kids
5 pm - 6 pm dinner
3. Skip that meeting. Here's how I used to work. A designer calls and says, "Jane, I'm interested in one-on-one consulting because I need help selling to boutiques." I say "Great! Let's meet at a coffee shop at 1:00 Thursday." So I drive there (30 minutes), meet with the designer (60 minutes), drive home (30 minutes). I've spent an hour and a half - minimum. What I do now is suggest a 15 minute chat session on the phone. I also ask a prospective client to read a few things before we chat (on my website or info I send them) so they know a bit about how consulting works. This way, by the time we talk, they usually already know whether or not they want to be a client and our chat session becomes a chance for me to learn more about their business to see how I can best help. Everyone saves time and energy and we get right down to business to help the designer reach their goals.
4. Speaking of goals, ask yourself: "Is what I'm doing - this minute - moving me closer to my goals?" You really want to fight to do only things that are related directly to your goals. If you're doing stuff that's not going to get you where you want to go, delegate it (even to an intern) or drop it. Now. For instance, if your goal is to sell 6 new stores this season, write that goal on an index card near your desk and check-in with yourself about what you're doing to see it fits with your goal. Do you need to schlep things back and forth to the factory? Is there someone else that can do it? How can you streamline the process?
And one more thing... think about your email home page. Set it to something not too tempting. If you get sucked into celebrity news, make sure it doesn't pop up when you get online. Save it for after-work hours.
If you think your business is in need of a pick-me-up, I can help. I offer different packages of consulting to meet the needs of start-ups as well as established companies. I give my clients step-by-step guidelines of how to proceed to grow their businesses. I keep it very simple - because that's how I learn best myself. I'm a fan of DO THIS... A, B then C. Then call me when you're finished and we'll go from there. All the time you are moving toward where you want to be with your business.
