photo credit: 3rdmartini
It’s very easy to spend a large percentage of your time working on projects that aren’t very important. It’s very difficult, but rewarding, to work on only the projects that add a lot of value to your life.
Not very important: Surfing the internet in lieu of getting something done. Answering emails/providing support for old clients who are no longer paying you. “Organizing” things (folders, directories, bookshelves) during normally productive hours. Facebook/MySpace/YouTube for pleasure. Unscheduled goofing off, and anything that isn’t an investment in worthwhile projects. (add your list here)
Important: Planning and reverse engineering your income/revenue for the next six months. Learning what you need to know to be successful and then practicing it until your good at it. Making sales calls. Writing content for your paying customers to read on your company blog. Finding places to advertise and then actually buying the advertising to grow your business. Focusing on one thing at a time. Ruthlessly pruning your activities to include only important stuff.
Etc., etc., etc…
I’m a very busy person. I’m a husband, father, and friend. I’m starting businesses, consulting with clients and advising business beginners – but I find that a lot of the work I do, when evaluated for how much “value” it contributes to my life, is a waste of time.
To be sure, I’m enjoying myself most of the time; I love hanging out with people, helping others succeed, and having fun learning new things and just goofing off. But if I don’t focus on what adds the most value to my life when I’m working then I’ll end with less time and resources to take care of my family, help others and enjoy life.
How do you manage your time to include mostly important things?
