Paul Simister's Business Coaching Blog

Time Management Articles

What do you think that successful entrepreneurs do superbly that less successful ones don't do as well?

I think managing how they use their time is right at the top of the list.

We've all seen people who run around like crazy and achieve very little and other people who seem calm and unrushed but create astonishing results.

I'd love to say that I'd mastered time management but I have regular struggles because of my unwillingness to delegate to subcontractors. I know it's wrong and try to remind myself that...

You have to invest time to save time

When I'm feeling particularly unproductive, I always find it very helpful to revert back to time logging every activity. Yes it can take a little bit of time but it makes me conscious of everything I do (before I do it) and I'm astonished at how long some activities can take.

Perhaps the best way to manage your time is to build a business that makes so much money, you can afford to employ everyone you need to free up your time with enough surplus to know that recruitment mistakes put right quickly won't hurt.

One of the most insightful (and memorable) thing that I've read or heard about time management is the distinction between two types of people:

• those who spend time to save money
• those who spend money to save time

Which are you and have you got the balance right?

Are you spending an hour saving $20 when you could be earning $200?

Time Management Articles

Is What You Do Efficient & Effective?

I'm watching the promotional content for a new product launch called Profit Hacks which is all about helping Internet entrepreneurs to get more done in less time.

This is very relevant to me as I spend a significant proportion of my working time information marketing.

It's got me thinking about what I do and the way that I do it.

How To Leverage Your Time More Effectively

The secret to getting more done is to leverage your time more effectively.

OK that's:

a) Obvious

b) Easier said than done.

The key question is:

How can I get more out of what workl I've already done or work that I'm about to do?

It's back to the old adage of "working smarter, not harder".

There's a new course coming out called Profit Hacks.

The Business Owner's Busy Fool Syndrome

Today I want to talk about business owners who suffer from the busy fool's syndrome.

I'm not trying to be rude but I do mean to be blunt.

Too Many Small Businesses Fail

I don't know what the exact statistics are but I've heard things like:

• 50% of new businesses fail in the first year
• 90% of businesses don't survive the first five years

The cynic in me says that business advisors will exagerate these failure statistics to scare people into buying advice and training.

The realist in me looks at:

Ever Had Weeks When You Are Not Making Progress?

via content.ytmnd.com

via www.cutesexyfunnyawful.com

via content.ytmnd.com

7 Key Time Wasters At Work

I read an article yesterday that reminded me of the 7 key time wasters that Brian Tracy has identified:

1. Telephone interruptions
    
   
2. Unexpected visitors
    
   
3. Meetings

Stop Start More Less Grid - Manage Your Constraints

I want to introduce you to an absolutely essential business and personal improvement tool - the Stop, Start, More, Less Grid.

Why The Stop Start More Less Grid Is So Important

You are probably one of the business owners that works too hard.

For me or any business coach or advisor to come along and say "if you want more profit you need to do X, Y and Z", you can immediately feel overloaded and more closer to the point where you do find the "straw that breaks the camel's back".

And this is where the Stop Start More Less Grid comes in.

Email Survival Strategy Cashmap

Simpleology have announced a new product - the Email Survival cashmap.

If you are overwhelmed by your email every morning and it messes up your to do list - and if you hate going away on holiday because you will come back to 2,138 emails in your inbox, you need to take a look at the Email Survival Strategy Cashmap.

Wake Up Productive Eben Pagan

I heard overnight that Eben Pagan is opening up his time management program - Wake Up Productive - for one day - January 5th 2009.

Wake Up Productive (link has stopped working)

Eat That Frog - Stop Procrastinating

This morning I have been following Brian Tracy's advice by "eating that frog" this morning.

The idea is that if you have a frog to eat, it's better to get it over and done with. You certainly don't want to be sitting there looking at it all day.

I haven't really eaten a frog of course but what I have done is tackled a few jobs that I have been putting off, and off because I didn't want to do them.

Eben Pagan Wake Up Productive

Last month Eben Pagan launched his Wake Up Productive program and it was a big success.

For a limited 12 hours on Wednesday October 22nd / Thursday October 23rd, Eben is opening up the Wake Up Productive program again. Update - it is re-opening again for one day January 5th 2009.

Eben promises to "teach you how to double your productivity, increase your energy, and take more time off."

21 Great Ways To Manage Your Time Brian Tracy

In my series of blogs on common mistakes made by entrepreneurs, time management has been a recurring theme so it seemed a good idea to introduce you to one of my favourite short time management programs - Brian Tracy and his "21 Great Ways To Manage Your Time and Double Your Productivity".

One of the biggest problems when I talk to entrepreneurs about developing their business is the concern that they don't have time to do what they already do, let alone find the time to do some new activities.

Time Management Software Tools

As a business coach, one of the biggest issues I see is entrepreneurs struggling to manage their time and decide priorities.

It's an old joke - "I don't have time to go on a time management course" - but so often it seems to be true.

There are techniques and tactics to help you to learn to manage the use of your time more effectively but it does your time management depends on your self discipline to follow a process, to identify priorities, identify tasks that you will do and then to do them.

Failing To Manage Your Time

Continuing my series of entrepreneurial mistakes we come to number 3 about time management and in particular, failing to manage your time.

Huge Time Demands On Entrepreneurs

There is so much to do when you own and run a small business but you must keep reminding yourself that you don't have to do it all yourself.

Know your own strengths and focus on bringing their full benefit to your business. Don't allow yourself to be distracted by matters that are unimportant and don't naturally fit into your strengths.

Simpleology 101 Review Time Management Productivity

Let me introduce you to a great time management resource which will help you to improve your personality product - Simpleology 101 (affiliate link).

I have reviewed Mark Joyner's book "Simpleology: The Simple Science of Getting What You Want" on my Business Books Review Blog and while I am a fan of Mark Joyner, the book was a bit of a struggle.

The course is much better.

Double Your Productivity Double Your Time Off

I am certain that you have heard of Brian Tracy even if you haven't yet had a chance to read or listen to much of his material.

Brian is one of the business development superstars that I feature on this blog and his scope is even wider than mine.

Time Chunking - Focusing Your Time On Your Top Priorities

Do you get distracted easily when you are trying to do something important?

The phone rings, the email pings, someone pops into your office..."Just Got A Minute..."

It is so easy to be interrupted but the end result can be devastating. You spend long hours "working" but you are not satisfied with what you have achieved at the end of the day.

The answer is to be very disciplined about time chunking.

Your Primary Aim - The Work/Life Balance

"Paul, how will you start to improve my business?" is a question I'm often asked when I first meet a prospective client.

I explain that "improve" is a very wide concept.

It all depends on what you (as the business owner) want to do with your business, and in particular the role that you want your business to play in your life.

Your Primary Aim

The best item I've read on this is Chapter 12 "Your Primary Aim" of "The E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. (This is one of the two books that I believe that all small business owners should read. The other is Jay Abraham's "Getting Everything You Can Out Of All You've Got".)