What if we said there was a single habit that led to success?
Yes, one.
Seriously, though. Just one.
It’s time management. It’s the ultimate skill that everyone needs — regardless of your industry or position. And the single most skill that most of us fall behind on. As entrepreneurs, we often collide with the misconception that owning a business allows us the freedom to do as we please. While this may be true in some cases, it also places full responsibility on yourself.
To be successful in business, you need to manage your time with a laser-focused attitude. It also requires for you to be strategic in your systems. Today, our ActionCOACH shares time management rules of a millionaire. We hope you’re able to practice it in your daily life and drive your endeavors on forward to success!
Install a gate…keeper.
Incoming phone calls and burn through chunks of your day. Have someone screen your calls or take advantage of an operating system. When the caller interacts with this, they mentally have to justify why they’re calling you. Take it a step further and provide the option of scheduling a meeting or leaving a message. This cuts times to “chat” and focuses your conversations on action.
You’ve got mail.
How many of us are guilty of checking our emails all day? Five minutes here, seven minutes there really adds up. Brad Sugars recommends checking your inbox at the start of the day and at the end of your day so you can focus on vital matters.
Make a list and check it twice.
One of the most notable time management rules of a millionaire is discipline. Delegate as needed and you’ll notice your schedule beginning to clear. Block off specific parts of the day (or the week) for dedicated focus on projects. Our ActionCOACH team recommends starting your day with a to-do list and breaking it down into 3-5 action items. It keeps you on track and allows you to measure success. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy checking off those boxes?
Protect it like it’s food.
Meetings are tricky to schedule and one of the hardest things to predict. Try to keep them to a “necessary” and opt for alternative forms of communication. Better yet, establish check-in points where you share the progress of a project. Not only does it hold you accountable, but keeps your partner in the loop. Organizing your meetings more efficiently frees up your time and saves you a lot of headaches in the long run.
Our conclusion.
Time management is easy to practice — and to break. But by breaking it down into prioritization, delegation, and focus, your schedule will begin to clear and you’ll be able to take on projects or partners.
What do you do to practice time management? How long did it take for you to develop those positive habits? Did you run into any obstacles along the way? Share your stories with us in the comments, below. We’d love to hear your thoughts!