Entrepreneurs work hard so they can enjoy the material comforts that accompany success. We strive to build businesses that enable us to take luxurious vacations, buy beautiful homes, and give generously to our children, spouses, friends and the charities closest to our hearts.

But I would argue that the #1 reward of running a thriving Legacy Business is being a master of your time – time to work your business, but also time to unplug, invest in yourself, travel, enjoy the activities you’re most passionate about, and spend time with your friends and loved ones.

Time is without a doubt an entrepreneur’s most valuable resource.

Unfortunately, entrepreneurs that struggle with time management view time as a detrimentally limited resource.

I’ve heard many entrepreneurs express that “there aren’t enough hours in the day”. If you can relate, then it’s worth your while to consider reshaping your beliefs about time management.

Instead of focusing on not having enough time, focus on learning how to create more time.

We may be limited to 24 hours in a day, but most of us can utilize our time more effectively. If you feel there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish your goals, it’s time to develop revamp your time management system.

Do your values and action align?

We all want time to work for us, not against us. But what does that really mean? Time working for you means making use of your time in a way that aligns with your core values and brings you closer to reaching your goals.

To feel a sense of fulfillment and achievement, you need to have clarity about what matters most to you and ensure that your actions support those goals and values.

Let’s say you have set a goal to meditate for 10 minutes a day. You shut the door to your office, close your eyes and focus on your breathing.

Suddenly, your phone vibrates. You’re inclined to quickly check to see who texted you. Most likely, you’ll shoot them a quick text back before returning to your exercise. Before you know it, you’re involved in a back and forth and the time you allocated for meditation has slipped away. Even if you don’t reply to the text, you’ve lost focus.

It’s important to evaluate whether your actions bring you closer or farther away from reaching your goals. In the case above, if your goal is to take time to clear your mind so you can recharge and be more productive, it’s important to eliminate distractions that will pull you away from the task at hand. Before sitting down, put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door and set your phone on silent. These small action steps help bring you closer to achieving the goals that reflect your core values.

• Make sure you have clarity about the things you value most in life by asking “What do I really want?”
• Eliminate activities in your schedule that aren’t closely connected to your goals and values
• Regularly evaluate whether your actions align with your values and identify strategies that will help you reach your goals

Have the Courage to Say No.

Working with entrepreneurs, I’ve learned that some people are overwhelmed by their “To Do” list because they have a difficult time saying “No”. Afraid of being judged, facing rejection or missing an opportunities, they say “Yes” to everyone and everything that comes their way.

But saying “Yes” to people and accepting responsibilities against your better judgement takes you away from the activities that align with your goals. Don’t be afraid to say “No” to opportunities that compromise your values or take you away from time dedicated to the activities and people that matter most to you.

How can you muster up the courage to say “No”?

Think about a time when you reluctantly said “Yes” to something you knew would be difficult for you, and immediately regretted it. Focus on the emotional stress that your choice caused you. Perhaps you looked for ways to get out of the responsibility, fulfilled it begrudgingly or flaked out because you were too busy or overwhelmed. When you find yourself experiencing a gut feeling that you’ll regret saying “Yes”, remember that it’s easier to build the courage to say “No” now rather than suffer the consequences of a poor decision later.

Attack Tasks in 20-Minute Chunks.

One of the reasons people allow themselves to be distracted by emails or social media messages is because they want an escape from feeling overwhelmed by a daunting, important task. When you find yourself faced with a difficult, potentially draining task, break it down into small, more manageable tasks tackled in 20 minute increment blocks. Identify a task, set a 20 minute timer, and until the timer rings give that task your undivided attention. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted or switch tasks during this time period. When the timer rings, take a short break if you feel you need one, then repeat the process until that task is complete.

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate.

Businesses thrive when entrepreneurs spend the bulk of their time laser focused on the activity they do best, be it marketing, sales, networking, coaching, etc. In order to achieve this, you need to get comfortable with outsourcing other tasks in your business to experts you trust. Some entrepreneurs I work with hire full-time or part-time employees while others build a remote team of freelancers. Decide what works best for your business and delegate whatever you can, whenever you can.

Many entrepreneurs eat, sleep and breathe their business so letting go of control can be difficult at first. But when you try to do it all, nothing gets the attention it deserves. Delegating gives you the time necessary to focus on executing a shorter list of tasks that align with your goals and core values.

Greater Time Management = Greater Fulfillment

Utilizing strategies to improve your time management skills opens the door for a more prosperous, profitable business and a happier, more fulfilled existence. When you stop fighting the clock and learn to make the most of your time, worlds will open up for you.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I teach my clients time management skills that allow them to focus on achieving the outcomes that drive their greatest passions.

Ponder this: you have 86,000 seconds in a day. How will you spend them to create a life you love?

To learn strategies designed to help you “Double Plus” your income this year and become a master of your time, email me at celeste@celestegiordano.com.

Up Next: You’re Invited

We invite our local community to visit us on April 27th, 2017 from 11:00 to 1:00 p.m. at the 1818 Club for the WGC Atlanta Chapter meeting. “Success Strategies for a Great Next Quarter” business panel discussion led by Shellie Hunt, Jeannie Penland with HGI, Sara Poe with Poe’s Accounting, Terry Son with Forten Media, and Sue Wyatt, Senior Vice President of Brand Bank. Pre-registration for the event is $25.00. Click here to pre-register. If you are interested in being a sponsor, please contact celeste@thewomenofglobalchange.com.

We are also opening up several other chapters across the United States. I am honored to help launch the Toronto, Ontario Chapter in May, 2017. To become a presenting sponsor or sponsor at this premier Toronto event, contact Celeste Giordano here. For additional information about WGC, please visit our website!

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “double-plus” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with almost 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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