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Dear StartupNation: We bill for time at
our business, so its both our biggest asset - and worst enemy when we
waste it. As we grow, we need better systems for managing time and
keeping track of whos working on what project and for how long. Ive
already wasted time looking at solutions that dont fit. Where can we get
help?
You sure hit a sensitive nerve. At StartupNation, our goal is to help entrepreneurs work more effectively, and we surely understand that time is money. We have the privilege of interacting with many successful entrepreneurs online and on our radio show. Managing time efficiently, they say, is one of the most important things they do.
You sure hit a sensitive nerve. At StartupNation, our goal is to help entrepreneurs work more effectively, and we surely understand that time is money. We have the privilege of interacting with many successful entrepreneurs online and on our radio show. Managing time efficiently, they say, is one of the most important things they do.
Here are five of their recommendations for wise time management
- Make a "To-Do" List: Perhaps the most basic of all "time management" systems ever invented, this time-tested maneuver puts it all on the line, in one place, and helps you focus on one item at a time.
- Delegate: Many entrepreneurs accustomed to "doing it all" find this exceedingly difficult. But even if you are a solo operator, you can pass off tasks to others (via outsourcing, for example) to free up time for yourself.
- Analyze how time is spent: Divide the day into small time blocks and record what you (or others) were doing in each block. Compare this to your goals and priorities. Do they align?
- Put a lid on procrastination: Entrepreneurs with a "can-do" attitude say that putting things off simply doesnt work. Even a simple "no" response to something on your to-do list can extinguish that item and let you move on.
- Set clear goals for yourself and your employees: Its not so much the clock thats important, but the compass that gets you where you want to go.
