One of the things I am really good at is wasting time. My DISC styles analysis report rates me a high “I”. This means among other things, I’m highly creative, a great influencer and motivator, all good attributes for an executive coach. On the other side, these same talents keep me from being focused and detailed. So, how do I get things accomplished? One of the first things I did years ago was to hire a virtual assistant. Timothy Ferriss in his book, “The 4-Hour Workweek” gives great suggestions on how to get good support at low cost. At times my VA’s have made almost as much money as I have in a week. Never once, did I regret the decision.
Being an entrepreneur and building a business means I needed someone who would be able to help me with the details and give me more time to work on my business not in it. My VA, Lynn, now knows me inside and out and asks me the questions that get things done. This leaves me so much more time for the projects that I like and that are important to me like writing, coaching, and just plain old thinking time.
Most of us are so busy doing the tasks of our jobs, whether we are executives or entrepreneurs, we forget to just sit and think about what we are doing. The truth is managers are “doers”, and leaders are the “innovative, pioneer thinkers” who come up with great ideas and direct their businesses. They spend 80% of their time on what will bring them a profitable return. Do you spend more time managing or leading? After many years of coaching and being an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that time management and how I view myself are essential to my progress and success. What about you?
I cannot be all things to all people, but when I do what I do best, I succeed. Yes, there are many times when I must get the “job” done. This does require me to stay focused, task oriented, disciplined and accountable to myself and others. These are skills I have been able to learn and use when I become distracted. They need constant practice and discipline. Brian Tracy tells us, “you can only manage yourself”. This was a decision I made a long time ago when I became an entrepreneur. Are you worth making these changes?
