[Podcast] How successful people manage their time revealed – with Mark Creedon | Build a Business, Not a Job Podcast

One of the interesting benefits I experienced from the prolonged lockdowns during 2020 was that I’ve been working more efficiently.

Prior to COVID-19, I worked from home one or two days a week and from the office the other days. But interestingly, working from home full time made me much more efficient with my use of time.

So, how do you make the most use of your time? How do you make sure you’re working most efficiently?

That’s the topic of discussion today in my monthly Build a Business, Not a Job podcast with Mark Creedon.

But even if you’re not in business, and even if you’re not a professional, this podcast is going to be valuable, because for most of us, it seems there’s never enough time in a day.

However, we’ve all got the same 24 hours to accomplish a task, and some of us seem to be exceptionally good at it, while others seem to struggle meeting their deadlines.

So, my question is, why are some people so much more efficient at using their time than others?

And the answer lies in time management.

Today, I’m going to share with you how successful people manage their time, so you can make the best use of yours.

We all have the same amount of time but some of us squander it, waste it, don’t use it efficiently, so my aim today is that at the end of this podcast that you’ll be able to see how much time you have in the day and you’ll find something in that will help you get more out of your day.

#1 Time is your most valuable and scarcest resource

• You should realise how truly valuable time is. You can lose money and get it back again if you’re sick you can often get your health back again but once the time has gone it is gone and is irretrievable.
• You’d be surprised how much you can achieve in one minute, and your health you could take some deep breath stretch and relax, in your relationships in one minute you can tell somebody that you love them. In business you can come up with a breakthrough idea in one minute.

#2 Identify your most important task (MIT) and do it first.

• What is that project that’s going to double the size of your business what is that task that he’s going to get you that promotion at work, and then break it down – what domino can I tip over today that will lean on the next one and the next one?
• Schedule time to work on your MIT – preferably in the morning –– we are at our cognitive best for a two-hour window of time first thing in the morning.

#3 Work from your calendar – not a to do list

• 41% of items that people have on there To Do list never get done it all. A To Do list is the graveyard of important but not urgent items.
• If you really want to get something done – pick a day, a time, a duration and put it in your calendar

#4 There will always be more to dos

• I first started out five days a week wasn’t enough, so I work seven days a week. When I first started out eight hours a day wasn’t enough – so I worked 10 and at times 12 hours a day.

#5 Always carry a notebook

• Maybe it’s journaling, maybe it’s capturing ideas words of wisdom etc
• Our minds are best used for processing different ideas, not for holding onto information

#6 Control your inbox

• Shut off the notifications on your emails and go to inbox when you want to do it, not when somebody calls you.
• Process emails three times a day.

#7 Schedule and attend meetings as a last resort

• You may not be in the position that you could say no to your boss, but it is likely you can say no to a lot of meetings or make them shorter meetings, stand-up meetings.
• If you’re most productive in the morning say no to meetings in the morning.

#8 Say no to everything that doesn’t support your immediate goals.

• The problem is when you say yes to one thing you’re actually saying no to another thing, or many things.

#9 Follow the Powerful Pareto Principle 

• 80% of your results will come from about 20% of your activities, so slow down and look at all the work you’re doing and then work out the handful of tasks that give you the most results and focus on them

#10 Focus on your unique strengths and passions

• Learn to delegate – remember the 80/20 rule

#11 Batch your work

• Leading consultant Dan Sullivan says entrepreneurs should have focus days, buffer days and free days
• Free days are days when you don’t work – you’re resting and recharging.

#12 If you can do a task in less than five minutes do it immediately

• The touch it once principal

#13 Productivity is about energy and focus, not time

• Look after your body, sleep take more breaks
• We’re designed to sprint and have a break

Links and Resources:

Why not join Metropole’s Business Accelerator Mastermind

Learn more about Mark Creedon – Business Coach to some of Australia’s leading entrepreneurs

Some of our favourite quotes from the show:

“We’ve all got the same 1440 minutes every day.” – Michael Yardney

“You don’t get most of the things on your to-do list done. You never do.” – Michael Yardney

“Be careful about what you accept.” – Michael Yardney

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