9 1/2.
That's how many hours of sleep I got last night and yet... I'm still tired.
So tired that my laptop keyboard looks like a really nice place to lay down my head and take a nap.
I know. I probably should figure out what's going on. But like a classic business owner I think, "I don't have time for that."
Time.
We only have 24 hours in a day. 7 days in a week.
It is the great equalizer among human beings. No matter how much wealth, privilege, intelligence or other resources you've been graced with from the beginning, or earned along the way, no one else has any more or less time to use than you do.
Of course, it is a little different for you.
When you are running a business, what you spend your time on (or don't) can mean the difference between...
So I'm going to let you in on a little secret.
(But please don't get mad at me for this. You may not like what I have to say.)
What "I Don't Have Time" Usually Means
When I hear someone (even myself) say, "I don't have time for XYZ," I don't take it at face value.
What I hear them truly say: "XYZ is not a priority for me."
From "It's not a priority to improve my business" to "It's not a priority to have this conversation" to "It's not a priority to figure out why I'm not sleeping well."
And while there's no judgment as I hear it, I do wonder how many people are actually aware that that's what they're saying.
Because if your loved one had a sudden health crisis and you needed to be at the hospital ASAP, wouldn't you figure out how to get there?
You'd free up your time for that priority and you'd get where you'd need to be. Or you'd face the regret of not being there.
So when you say you don't have time... notice it and consider whether you've just let other things become your priorities, consciously or not.
How Time Issues Trap You & Your Business
The catch, and what makes this all much less obvious in day to day life, is that most time issues aren't emergencies.
That and we're great at justifying things in our state of busy-ness.
Except here, today, as a business owner, it's you who defines the priorities and you who defines "business as usual."
But what exactly is business as usual?
This is where your choices and your systems become so much more important.
You might jump to needing structural support. Or wanting more warm bodies to delegate to.
The Simplest Time Saver Is One You Control
Sometimes in my conversations with my clients, the simplest and best systems to "save them time" are the ones they have the most control over.
Like telling the client you can't talk now but you could be free at 2:15 or 4:30 to talk.
Or restricting your "open door" times with staff so that you aren't dealing with non-stop interruptions. If your door is closed (or your Teams status is on Do Not Disturb), that's what needs to be respected.
Or even just watching your language. Not every task on your to-do list has equal urgency. In fact, the most important, needle-moving thing might be the least urgent of them all.
Time is the universal equalizer and the greatest mirror of your personal and professional priorities.
Are your priorities the right ones for you?
If you want help analyzing where to start, set up an introductory call with me.
