3 Steps to Executive Time Management with Geoff Skadra
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Growing up, my daddy used to say “We all have the same 24 hours in a day. It’s your job to make the most of it.” At the time I just rolled my eyes, but it turns out dad was right.
As an agency owner, everyone wants a piece of your calendar. It is your job to pay yourself first and protect your time.
Geoff Skadra is the founder of Focus First Business Advisors. We invited him onto the podcast to share some practical tips on how agency owners can take control of their busyness so they can spend more time doing what they love.
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Step 1: Conduct a Time Audit
You need data to make smart decisions, but most agency owners have no idea where they’re spending their time.
Take two weeks and don’t change a thing. Record your time. Be as detailed as possible. And be consistent.
At the end of the two weeks, you’ll be able to see where you’re being inefficient. This will allow you to build a better plan for managing your time.
Step 2: Make Your Goals a Priority
In his book Profit First, Mike Michalowicz makes a point of paying yourself as owners before anyone else gets paid. This principle works just as well when it comes to your time.
Geoff shares that one of his clients wanted to spend more time with his family. For years it was his goal, but he always came up short.
He made spending time with his family a reality by proactively blocking off Friday afternoons. Now he accepts no meetings during that time and can invest in his family relationships.
This is a simple step, but it works. It works when you honor a commitment you make to yourself.
Step 3: Set a Block for Prioritized Activities
It is easy to let the world dictate your priorities for you. This leaves you always reacting to what is around you. Geoff shares a simple step you can take to make sure you have the necessary time to complete your most important tasks: block the time on your calendar just like you would any other appointment.
This seems simple because it is. The hard part is viewing that appointment with yourself with the same weight that you would an appointment with someone else. You need to put the time on the calendar and keep it there.
