Entrepreneurs are a special breed. These guys have several ideas every day. Some of average, some are good and some are awesome. They are so busy putting plans in place and finding new ideas, plans, products, the list goes on. How do they organise their time management? The Leslie Link delves into the world of the entrepreneur.
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What is an Entrepreneur?
According to the Oxford English dictionary, an Entrepreneur is “A person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.”
This is pretty intense. These people can be great risk takers. But at the same time, they do their research and try to start businesses that will be successful. But imagine those ideas that do not work…all that time and effort wasted. So how do they manage their time, to sift out and separate the good and the bad ideas?
Time Management of the Entrepreneur
It seems that entrepreneurs are great at getting things done. This is a simple fact. They do not waste time thinking about this and that. They get an idea and go for it. They will research it and if they think it is viable they will start it. Many of us might think we are entrepreneurs but we spend too long in our own heads. Sure, they do not always get it right and many people fail. But unless you try and have a go, how will you know it will be a success?
They save time by acting on their ideas. Either starting it as a business or eliminating it as a possibility at all. This ruthlessness with your thoughts, can save you so much time and makes you more focused. Like the great entrepreneur and inventor Alexander Graham Bell said “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”
Once you know what you are going to do, make sure you have a plan.
There is no point charging in, with no sense of direction. Make sure you take the time to create a business plan. A to-do list for each day/week etc. can help as well. Planning like this ensures that you are efficient with your time. By having a schedule to follow you are accountable. Instead of giving in and taking a time out, you can make sure that you stick to the plan, to achieve your goals.
Another benefit of having a plan is that anytime you can refer to it, to you see what stage you are at. Do you need more time on a certain area? Are their new areas that need to be taken into consideration? When situations like this arise, you can incorporate them into your existing plan. This is the key to time management.
And when the plan is complete, get started.
As Napoleon Hill said “Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.”
Minimise Meetings
“The least productive people are usually the ones who are most in favor of holding meetings.” – Thomas Sowell
This is so true. Meetings are of course important to discuss a specific issue or project. But in some companies, meetings can get out of hand and as an entrepreneur it is best to try and keep them to a minimum. Otherwise, you can end up having meetings about meetings. There are only so many hours in the working day. If these hours are filled up by meetings, you can lose valuable time. When you want to arrange a meeting, check to see if you can add it to another meeting. Also check if the meeting can be planned monthly instead of weekly.
Hire a Virtual Assistant
When you are an entrepreneur it is easy to become protective of your work. You feel you are the only one that can do it well. Many entrepreneurs end up working crazy hours to make sure they do everything. This will not save you time, as in the long run you will end up being burnt-out. You will reach a certain point of inefficiency, as you start monitoring everything. You will feel like you are drowning in work.
This is not sustainable. This is the time it is worth considering hiring a virtual assistant. You can find a virtual assistant, in almost anything these days. Because more and more people work from home. Consider it as an option to save you time, so you can remain focused and driven to succeed.
Manage your time well and you will be flying to success in no time at all.
Sally Leslie is a motivational coach and optimist. She helps freelancers and entrepreneurs create balance in their lives and work towards their personal and professional goals. Sally is also a B2B freelance writer for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and startups. A lover of plants, freedom, and football!
