It is an issue every entrepreneur must recognize and deal with… Time wasters.
We all know that time is money and when we waste time, it is like taking a $100 bill from the wallet and tossing it into the fireplace.
But what often happens is, we don’t recognize that we are wasting time. We actually think we are doing something that is beneficial. Suddenly, we look back and realize we have been performing time wasters.
Hopefully, we are able to repair the damages.
In an effort to help entrepreneurs, I am going to go through some of the most damaging time wasters. I suggest you review these often to make sure you are not “trapped” in any of them.
Time Waster #1: No Plan
Someone once said, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
If you are going through each day without a plan and just improvising as you go, you are “walking in a mine field.”
Studies have proven that business owners who attempt to “flow as they go” will probably fail.
Be wise and make a daily plan each evening for the next day. Otherwise, people will pull you in various directions and odds are, none of those directions will be the most beneficial.
Time Waster #2: Doing The Tasks Someone Else Could
This is a huge time waster and I believe every entrepreneur commits this one from time to time.
Every business has those routine tasks that the “head honcho” need not touch.
A good way to discover what you are doing that could be delegated is:
- Write down all you do when working over a weeks time… Everything!
- Identify 3-5 of those tasks that no one but you can do.
- Now find tribe members or freelancers who can manage the other tasks and take them off your plate.
- Focus your time and energy on those 3-5 tasks and let the other items be completed by other people.
Tasks you should consider delegating or outsourcing
- Bookkeeping
- List management
- Cleaning
- Errands
- Customer service
- Social media management
- Blog or website management
- Etc…
Time Waster #3: Email
Do you really need to check that email box every hour?
The next time you go to your email, note the time and you will cry when you realize you spent 1 or 2 hours going through unimportant stuff.
I suggest you take some time and make a list of email addresses you know carry important material that you will need.
Set yourself to 2 or 3 email checks daily and only open the important. After work is done, you then can clean through that other email stuff.
Time Waster #4: Multi-Tasking
Some entrepreneurs have an assumption they are getting more done when they multi-task.
Research has proven otherwise.
When you are trying to do several tasks at the same time, the odds of mistakes are higher and you are not giving each task complete focus.
It is much better that when you make your daily plan, give your tasks importance scores. Now complete them by order of importance.
Time Waster #5: Chaotic Meetings
Meetings are required at times but when those meetings turn into a form of chaos, they are a huge time waster for you and your team.
Meetings need to be controlled and focused on a certain subject. If you try to throw too much into one meeting, it solves nothing.
I suggest keeping meetings to ½ hour or less and keep it focused on 1 matter. I believe several short meetings is better than 1 long meeting.
Time Waster #6: Getting A Yea Or Nay
If we had any idea how much time we waste with prospects because they are uncomfortable saying no to us, we would cry.
It is not a simple process, but don’t accept maybe or at a later date as an answer. Many of these people are just saying that thinking that no will hurt your feelings.
“Heck Jim… You won’t hurt my feelings by just giving your absolute answer. I don’t want to waste your time or mine. What is holding you back from saying yes or no today?”
Time Waster #7: Social Media
Did I even have to put this on the list?
Just like email, give yourself only set times to go into those social zones and set an alarm to get out.
You just have to use self-restraint and not fall into the social media time wasting trap.
Final Thoughts
I believe these are the most damaging time wasters.
Do you agree?
I suggest you write or print these and keep them visible to help you recognize when you may be “slipping.”
You know, one aspect that is not a time waster is recruiting. Whether you are recruiting employees, team members, freelancers or business partners, it is a primary task that you should be committed to.
Guess what!!!
I can help you with that recruiting task. The Rocket Recruiting App gives you the tools you need to make recruiting a breeze. Check it out here.
I know if you look close, you will start to perform the tasks that are the revenue building aspects and you will stop wasting time.
Let me know if this helped you and will you also do me one other favor? Just click those social buttons and share it with your friends so they will stop wasting time too.
Thanks and have a great day!
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