If there were only four days in a working week, what would you change?
The phrase “Time is Money” is probably more accurate in the plumbing world than in most other industries. With so much choice of supplier for the end customer, often business owners within our industry are forced to calculate the value of a job based on time.
The pay per hour, daily rate and, how much we make after fitting that boiler. Most business never gets to the “next level” as the owner is only thinking about the immediate payment from this job to the next.
Yes, this months money is essential to paying the bills and putting food on the table but what about the time we should invest into the crucial tasks and most important projects that will raise us above the competition, delivering better long term ROI on time invested?
Time management all starts with a plan.
Time management all starts with a plan.
How will you plan your time?
Will you start with your essential business tasks, or will you plan your business around your family life first?
There is no right or wrong answer as every business, and every family is different. One thing is for sure that without a plan, you will fill the spare time available with the unimportant and let customers dictate your time to their convenience.
So what can we do about it?
“I’m too busy” & “I don’t have the time!”
These are both common excuses used by tunnel-visioned business owners. You need to stop and lift your head above the clouds from time to time to see the way forward.
But, how can we run and build our business at the same time as spending time with loved ones?
The 5 am Club ( Small, steps every day )
Waking up at 5 or 6 am every day might sound a little odd at first but consider what one or two hours a day without any distraction could do for your business. 5-10 hours every single week of being focused on the important will quickly start making a massive difference to your business.
Don’t wake up and waste time away flicking through Facebook or doing regular day to day activities. If you are going to get up this early, make sure you make the most of it.
Create a plan, highlighting the most critical projects and try to work on these until completed. Break large projects down into one small task at a time. Try to focus on one area of business until you see the results, rather than hopping from one project to another.
The Monday / Friday Club
Getting a full day off the tools to do our admin and business development is essential for any business. Many people use Monday as a business development day as it has less risk of jobs running over.
Fridays might fit others better. Perhaps the thought of a relaxed day in the office and an early finish on Friday will motivate you to get all other tasks completed by Thursday at whatever cost?
It is easier than you think. Take a day off and find a way to increase your profit by 25% a day. Four days at 25% equals the day you now take off every week. Work smarter, not harder.
Your New Week
