Are You Caught in the "Entrepreneur Time Warp© (ETW)"
| Category: Entrepreneurship | Date: 2003-08-11 |
It's so easy for you and your business to get caught up in the time warp. You're running your business alone...juggling many hats. You are everything.
The CEO, the marketing department, sales department, customer service, product development, bookkeeper, secretary, and yes...the janitor!
Any wonder why you are feeling overwhelmed with little or no time for family and friends? Didn't you start your business so you could have more time for the things you enjoy...like spending more time with your family and friends?
So how did you and your business get "trapped" in the Entrepreneur Time Warp©? Because you were taught to believe and follow the "Biggest" Entrepreneurial Lie (E-Lie)©
"The more hours I work, the more productive I must be."
This is so far from the truth...
I know because I've been there...done that and almost "warped" myself out of business and ruined my personal life until I "accidentally" stumbled across the real truth... That being "lazy" was the way to go...in other words..
"You can make the same amount or more money and be more productive when you working less hours."
That flies in the face of everything you've been told. But it's true. I've spent the past 15 years proving it. To both myself and my clients. Keep reading and I'll share 3 steps so you can work less hours too!
*What is the Entrepreneur Time Warp© (ETW)
You start your business with a burst of enthusiastic energy. So glad to be rid of your boss. You launch yourself into the work with such zeal...after all if you're going to work 10...12...or even 14 hour days...it might as well be for your dream instead of somebody else's right?
You are living and breathing your business with a clear vision of what your life will be like when your business reaches your ideal success level.
You follow the E-Lie and at first it seems to be working... Sales are coming in...your customers are happy and appreciate your efforts.Your business will be at that success level in no time.
It's in these Euphoric moments that you slip into the ETW©.
Because each sale...each new customer adds more work...more details...more paperwork...service obligations and many of the tasks you don't have either the skills or experience to do. You take time to learn them...put in more hours to keep up with the "stuff" of your business.
You put in more hours but the work just keeps multiplying, the "to do" list gets longer and the core work that created the income begins to suffer. You buy books and attend courses on how to manage your time, gain more customers and create more income.
Here is what I liked about these books and courses... they always have great ideas but they either become something that was added on the "to do" list or the suggestions worked.
Thus creating more work..more "stuff...so more long hours and they fail to tell you how to efficiently handle in increase work load.
It becomes a vicious cycle. You are going in circles and your business is trapped in a nonproductive time warp. The ETW©!!!
Instead of enjoying your business...You are overworked, your creativity shrinks...and creativity is the life blood of any business. You're no longer focused, tension builds between work, your personal life, and family relationships are strained. You have low energy levels. When you are mentally and physically drained, you continue to do the non-income producing activities or "stuff." Not only does your income suffer, so does your personal and family life.
Time is working against you...Remember there are only 24 hours in a day. Wouldn't you like to spend some of those 24 hours doing things you enjoy?
*How Traditional Time Management Methods Work Against You.
Time management is a product of industrial age. It was a concept created and structured to measure productivity of employees...from the factory worker to the office manager. It's a rigid structure based on hours and workdays divided into weekdays, weekends, vacation and holidays.
This rigid structure causes crises, high levels of stress, exhaustion, diminishing results, and decreased creativity which is disastrous for today's entrepreneur.
Before the industrial age, time was arranged to accommodate farming. Think about it. There was no 5 day work week or two weeks vacation. The farmer organized and still organizes his time around the planting season and the needs of his livestock.
Can you imagine the farmer not milking the cows because it's the weekend!
You, as an entrepreneur, thrive on vision and creativity. This is the driving force that motivates and keeps you going. Your mind is often going a mile a minute and you are often working on many projects, tasks and ideas at one time.
Rest and Relaxations time is critical in keeping you energized, motivated and creative. Taking time off rejuvenates and energizes you physically, emotionally and mentally. You are rev-up. Your productivity and creativity is high. You are performing at your best.
So how can you work less hours and still get "things" done without loosing any income?
By...
Thinking Outside the Clock©
We teach our clients to beginning thinking about time in a different perspective. Going against the grain of traditional time management and the structured work week.
Step 1 - Forget about "managing your time"
You can't manage time. There are only 24 hours in a day...no more...no less. Organize your time around your activities.
Second - Connecting Your 3 Life Zones
You have 3 life zones, business, family, and personal or "me" zone whose activities share and compete for the same 24 hour period. Establishing set business hours when you do business activities very important, especially if you have a home business. Keep your business activities out of your family and personal zones. Your family will love you for it.
Third. - Organize your activities around 4 different days.
1. Rest & Relaxation Days© - 24 hours of no business related activities, reading or problem solving. Total downtime to rejuvenate and recharge your batteries. ALWAYS schedule your R&R Days first.
2. Money Making Activities Days© - Scheduled business time with no interruptions where you focus only on activities that produce income.
3. Grunt Days - These are the days that you do all the "stuff." Because you have focused days for producing income and rejuvenating, you can devote time to tie up loose-ends, finish projects etc. totally guilt free.
4. Elimination Days - Life is messy and messes happen in both your personal and professional life. Messes clutter your life and cause distractions, interruptions and get you bogged down. You can't think straight. Elimination days you permission to stop, take a breath and take time to clean up the mess so you can back on track. Never replace a rest or money day with an elimination day.
Are you tired of working those long hours? Start arranging your time using the Thinking Outside the Clock© methods and you too will be out of the Entrepreneurial Time Warp.
~~Excerpt from The 15 Minute Success System
About the Author
Ann Rusnak is the 15 Minute Time Coach who helps entrepreneurs use The "15 Minute a Day" Technique that puts them in control of their time to grow their business faster and more profitable in less time with less stress! Subscribe to "Just 15 Minutes" and receive time saving information to grow YOUR business in less time. Send blank email to ebiz@just15minutes.com
support@just15minutes.com
http://www.just15minutes.com
The CEO, the marketing department, sales department, customer service, product development, bookkeeper, secretary, and yes...the janitor!
Any wonder why you are feeling overwhelmed with little or no time for family and friends? Didn't you start your business so you could have more time for the things you enjoy...like spending more time with your family and friends?
So how did you and your business get "trapped" in the Entrepreneur Time Warp©? Because you were taught to believe and follow the "Biggest" Entrepreneurial Lie (E-Lie)©
"The more hours I work, the more productive I must be."
This is so far from the truth...
I know because I've been there...done that and almost "warped" myself out of business and ruined my personal life until I "accidentally" stumbled across the real truth... That being "lazy" was the way to go...in other words..
"You can make the same amount or more money and be more productive when you working less hours."
That flies in the face of everything you've been told. But it's true. I've spent the past 15 years proving it. To both myself and my clients. Keep reading and I'll share 3 steps so you can work less hours too!
*What is the Entrepreneur Time Warp© (ETW)
You start your business with a burst of enthusiastic energy. So glad to be rid of your boss. You launch yourself into the work with such zeal...after all if you're going to work 10...12...or even 14 hour days...it might as well be for your dream instead of somebody else's right?
You are living and breathing your business with a clear vision of what your life will be like when your business reaches your ideal success level.
You follow the E-Lie and at first it seems to be working... Sales are coming in...your customers are happy and appreciate your efforts.Your business will be at that success level in no time.
It's in these Euphoric moments that you slip into the ETW©.
Because each sale...each new customer adds more work...more details...more paperwork...service obligations and many of the tasks you don't have either the skills or experience to do. You take time to learn them...put in more hours to keep up with the "stuff" of your business.
You put in more hours but the work just keeps multiplying, the "to do" list gets longer and the core work that created the income begins to suffer. You buy books and attend courses on how to manage your time, gain more customers and create more income.
Here is what I liked about these books and courses... they always have great ideas but they either become something that was added on the "to do" list or the suggestions worked.
Thus creating more work..more "stuff...so more long hours and they fail to tell you how to efficiently handle in increase work load.
It becomes a vicious cycle. You are going in circles and your business is trapped in a nonproductive time warp. The ETW©!!!
Instead of enjoying your business...You are overworked, your creativity shrinks...and creativity is the life blood of any business. You're no longer focused, tension builds between work, your personal life, and family relationships are strained. You have low energy levels. When you are mentally and physically drained, you continue to do the non-income producing activities or "stuff." Not only does your income suffer, so does your personal and family life.
Time is working against you...Remember there are only 24 hours in a day. Wouldn't you like to spend some of those 24 hours doing things you enjoy?
*How Traditional Time Management Methods Work Against You.
Time management is a product of industrial age. It was a concept created and structured to measure productivity of employees...from the factory worker to the office manager. It's a rigid structure based on hours and workdays divided into weekdays, weekends, vacation and holidays.
This rigid structure causes crises, high levels of stress, exhaustion, diminishing results, and decreased creativity which is disastrous for today's entrepreneur.
Before the industrial age, time was arranged to accommodate farming. Think about it. There was no 5 day work week or two weeks vacation. The farmer organized and still organizes his time around the planting season and the needs of his livestock.
Can you imagine the farmer not milking the cows because it's the weekend!
You, as an entrepreneur, thrive on vision and creativity. This is the driving force that motivates and keeps you going. Your mind is often going a mile a minute and you are often working on many projects, tasks and ideas at one time.
Rest and Relaxations time is critical in keeping you energized, motivated and creative. Taking time off rejuvenates and energizes you physically, emotionally and mentally. You are rev-up. Your productivity and creativity is high. You are performing at your best.
So how can you work less hours and still get "things" done without loosing any income?
By...
Thinking Outside the Clock©
We teach our clients to beginning thinking about time in a different perspective. Going against the grain of traditional time management and the structured work week.
Step 1 - Forget about "managing your time"
You can't manage time. There are only 24 hours in a day...no more...no less. Organize your time around your activities.
Second - Connecting Your 3 Life Zones
You have 3 life zones, business, family, and personal or "me" zone whose activities share and compete for the same 24 hour period. Establishing set business hours when you do business activities very important, especially if you have a home business. Keep your business activities out of your family and personal zones. Your family will love you for it.
Third. - Organize your activities around 4 different days.
1. Rest & Relaxation Days© - 24 hours of no business related activities, reading or problem solving. Total downtime to rejuvenate and recharge your batteries. ALWAYS schedule your R&R Days first.
2. Money Making Activities Days© - Scheduled business time with no interruptions where you focus only on activities that produce income.
3. Grunt Days - These are the days that you do all the "stuff." Because you have focused days for producing income and rejuvenating, you can devote time to tie up loose-ends, finish projects etc. totally guilt free.
4. Elimination Days - Life is messy and messes happen in both your personal and professional life. Messes clutter your life and cause distractions, interruptions and get you bogged down. You can't think straight. Elimination days you permission to stop, take a breath and take time to clean up the mess so you can back on track. Never replace a rest or money day with an elimination day.
Are you tired of working those long hours? Start arranging your time using the Thinking Outside the Clock© methods and you too will be out of the Entrepreneurial Time Warp.
~~Excerpt from The 15 Minute Success System
About the Author
Ann Rusnak is the 15 Minute Time Coach who helps entrepreneurs use The "15 Minute a Day" Technique that puts them in control of their time to grow their business faster and more profitable in less time with less stress! Subscribe to "Just 15 Minutes" and receive time saving information to grow YOUR business in less time. Send blank email to ebiz@just15minutes.com
support@just15minutes.com
http://www.just15minutes.com
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