Show Your Schedule Who’s Boss
You are the boss of your business. But are you the boss of your schedule? Have you implemented boundaries that set you up for success?
If you find yourself working around the clock, unable to say no, and neglecting personal responsibilities, you need a business boundary check.
As I work with people on planning their weeks, we talk a lot about their schedule. So many entrepreneurs come to me with a “wing it” mentality - doing things as they come up - so we work on becoming more intentional. Not only to focus on getting things done but scheduling and planning things in a strategic way so you can get more done in less time.
Here’s the truth - until we learn to set boundaries for ourselves as entrepreneurs, we’re going to continue having our days prioritized for us by other people, projects and last minute issues.
The very first non-negotiable commitment I highly recommend is to schedule the first hour of each workday to work on your business. You will always find a way to get your client work done, which makes it too easy to overlook the priorities for running your own business.
It’s also key to maximize your time. Be aware of your natural rhythms and protect the time that you’re at your best. Many people find the morning is prime time for productivity. And Imposter syndrome tends to show up later in the day when you’re tired or frustrated. So do the challenging stuff before any indecision or uncertainty can set in.
Here are some steps to setting up your schedule for success:
Protect the right time for the right task
Try creative things earlier in the day and networking or coffee chats in the afternoon.
Be strategic with appointment time
You do not have to take client calls every hour of every day. Maybe Mondays are for playing catch up and Fridays are for setting strategy for the next week.
Put yourself on the schedule
If you want to go to the gym every day at noon, get a pen and write it down to officially block the time on your calendar. If you don’t want to work on weekends, don’t. I try not to as much as possible, but if I do, it’s something related to MY business, not client work.
Have your clients book their time with you through a scheduler
Email in general is a time suck, especially the unnecessary back and forth it takes to schedule an appointment.
Learn to say no so you can say yes
When other people ask you for help, remember that your work is more urgent to you and less so to them, and vice versa. Don’t get pulled into other people’s urgency.
Know your limits
How long can you write for? How many phone calls can you handle in a day? How often should you network? How much time do you really need to spend engaging on social media?
Life can surely be unpredictable. That’s why when things are going smoothly it’s crucial to know how to work to your potential. Then you are prepared for the unexpected. Change that “what happens, happens” attitude to a “it’s what you want to happen, happens” when you choose to make it a priority.
And don’t get distracted by other people’s boundaries. Everyone’s boundaries are different. What works for them won’t always work for you.
Being accountable with your time isn’t only about scolding yourself when something doesn’t get done. It’s about setting you up for success by getting real about what you can and can’t do. Part of successful accountability is being realistic about what you can accomplish in a certain amount of time.
Ready to draw your work boundary lines in the sand? Set up a call with me to find out more about my 12-week Path of Action Accountability groups.
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
Download my free weekly planning guide - it will help you become more intentional with your time, develop a clear action plan for your week, and ensure that you are focusing on activities that will move your business forward - Download Now
Join our next CEO Power Planning Session and spend two and a half hours ON your business. During this facilitated workshop, you’ll set and prioritize your next 12-week goals, break them down into an executable action plan and create a resource plan - Join the Wait List
Apply for the next Close the Gap Program and stay on track to achieve your most important goals. 1:1 support and guidance on prioritizing goals, creating a plan and putting structure and routines in place. Then 12 weeks of group support around execution - Apply today