Manage your time

It is easy to say, difficult to practice. Most small entrepreneurs have problems to control their time. It is fundamental to organize your tasks and schedule.

There are also plenty of articles, books and talking about the subject. Why?

Let’s start from the end. With more time available you will be able to exercise innovation, develop “out-of-the-box” thinking to see what is wrong and what can be improved. You will be able to be more connected and updated with trends, opportunities and threats. You will be able to have a more balanced life with leisure and with your family.

So, what should you do?

There is no magic. But the best solutions for the worst problems are the most simple.

Start with writing the daily tasks that you need to do every day. Examples: read the news, read e-mails, reply e-mails, pay bills, verify bank accounts, verify stock, call suppliers, check with the staff if everything is ok, and so on.

Dimension how much time do you need (or you are expending) to accomplish those tasks. Verify where you can optimize your time, and organize the schedule to get it done. Start with only controlling the time spent. It is already a great step.

Resolve first the easiest and shortest tasks. If in some task you exceed your time limit, stop and go to the next one. Return to that one only after finishing the current “round” and use your “spare time” for so doing.

Try to reduce 10% to 30% the time of some tasks. With other tasks, develop a worksheet (a simple control) and try to empower someone to make it, and control.

Try to reserve, at least, one or two hours for creative thinking, to research, new products, new approaches, and new markets, depending on your core business and always with focus on strengths. And, also, don’t lose ever the “picture” of your market and competitors.

When you are stuck in a particular situation and don’t find a solution, go for a walk, have a coffee,  do something that makes you disconnect completely and quickly from the problem, and return to it later.

Don’t try to memorize every thing that happens or that you will need to do. You will lose time to remember some of them. Write on your notepad, outlook, palm, smart phone, or even a piece of paper.

When you are involved with a complex problem, that needs immediate resolution, and you need concentration, don’t let anyone interrupt your thoughts, close the door, don’t answer the phone, and finish your task first. You will economize time; will have more efficiency and efficacy.

Stop reading this article and go to practice.

Time, it is not only money, it is your life!