Your Overlooked Time
Management Obstacle
by Craig Ballantyne on 06/11/2012 ·
“If you don’t know what you want,
you end up with a lot you don’t.” – The Doorman, Fight ClubToday we’re going to talk about what remains the BIGGEST hurdle in most people’s lives – Time Management (second only to procrastination, a deadlier time problem).
And we’re going to look at a hidden problem that most people don’t think
about when it comes to using their time well.
In a perfect world you would have your day scripted, your phone turned
off, and you’d work until noon without even checking email…
But there might still be one big problem.
You could be working on the WRONG projects.
When you break it down, the best time management strategy is to make
sure you are using your time for the right things.
There is a difference between being busy and being productive.Many people, as Dan Kennedy says, confuse “activity” with “accomplishment”. Writing things down on a white board is activity. Actually getting stuff done is accomplishment = BIG difference.
Here’s how you can use your time better. Start by asking yourself these
questions:
1) What is the most profitable work I can be doing?
2) How can I spend more time on what is most profitable?
2) How can I spend more time on what is most profitable?
The answers to these questions should be major “A-Ha” moments for you.
I can’t imagine that using Facebook or Twitter would be the answer to
question #1. Is it?
No, of course not. Spending time in concentrated thought devoted to your
copy, your selling strategies, possible joint venture partners, and new product
creation are all more valuable.
Think about that the next time you are tempted to update your social
media status.
There’s another Kennedy quote that is burned into my brain that you can
use a great evaluator for anything you do.
The question is, “Where’s the profit in that?”
Apply that to all of your daily work activities. Is there profit in
checking Facebook?
If not, leave it for your leisure time. Don’t let it distract from your
work.
Is there profit in reading seven blogs and news websites per day? If no,
stop, and again, designate to leisure time or toss from your workday. If any of
them are essential to your business, that’s fine, you can read them during work
time, but be brutally honest with yourself.
Listen, the bottom line is that if you’re not happy with where you are
right now, then you need to start making better use of your time.
If you’re struggling to get your product done, you need to STOP
PROCRASTINATING.
Create an outline. Fill in the sections. Get it Done. The harsh truth is
that you just have to glue yourself to a chair and get it done.
Or, if you’re filming a product, simply invest $300 (NON- refundable)
and rent a hotel conference room for a certain date. Then prepare to film the
content there. If you aren’t ready and don’t film on that date, you lose the
$300. But I’m sure no one who follows that advice will let the date go by
without getting it done.
(By the way, I’m taking my own advice. I have booked a hotel room and
film crew to record a new set of online videos for ETR readers later this
month. The hotel and crew are booked and paid for. Now it’s just up to me to
follow through, and you better believe I won’t be wasting this opportunity.)
There’s NOTHING stopping you but yourself, and that’s a pretty flimsy
excuse.
You can do it. Just get it done.
You can always make your product better in the future.
Do the right things at the right time.
