Mar 20

What’s your time worth?

What's your time worth?[Image]

As a marketing consultant and ahem… entrepreneur, I have truly learned that time is money. Coming from a handsomely paid corporate job before going solo, I knew this intellectually. I traded my time for a regular pay cheque so I can pay my bills, live a good life and buy pretty things. When I decided to leave the high life and live creatively, my income also resembled the doodles of an artist – abstract and unfocused. You never know what squiggle of an income you’ll get the next day. However, there is a purpose to this lifestyle change, so I persevere.

My friend Tal Gur reminded me that time is a non-renewable resource which we must spend wisely. So recently, I wrote an inventory of my time.

How much time do I spend doing things:

  1. that are essential to quality of life but does not generate an income like organising parties and holidays, cleaning the house (although this can therapeutic), etc.
  2. that I hate to do but help me run my business like filing, bookkeeping, managing my diary, maintaining my blogs
  3. that make me happy like cooking, writing, dancing and other creative pursuits
  4. that help me generate income and create wealth like building knowledge and skills  so I can add greater value to my clients’ businesses, investing, acting on opportunities and making things happen

I have successfully redirected more time and energy towards creative living (point 3) but boy do I spend way too much time on points 1 and 2.

The solution? Outsource.

And last week, I hired a PA – actually a virtual assistant who will help me get organised at home and in the office (which is kind of the same in my case)  and turn my focus on activities that a) create wealth / generate income  and b) enrich the quality of my life.

What about you? If it were possible for you to outsource aspects of your life, what would it be and what would you do with the “extra” time?

 

 

 

 

 

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Jan 21

Making things happen

 

Making things happen - Scott Berkun

 

It’s normal for me to juggle at least 5 different creative projects at a time, all of which I’m passionate about. Recently, I’ve been thinking about focusing on key projects and ideas I could realistically manage in the next 12 months. The trouble is choosing which ones.

I keep coming across the book Making Things Happen, an internationational best seller by former Microsoft insider Scott Berkun. In his book he talks about how to make things happen, how to manage ideas, how to figure out what to do and what to do when things go wrong. Scott makes project management almost, well… sexy.

 

Making things happen - Scott Berkun

 

I haven't read all of it yet but I'm already loving the chapter that talks about what to do when things go wrong.

  • Always stay calm
  • Evaluate the problem
  • Get the right people in the room
  • Explore alternatives
  • Make the plan really, really simple
  • Make it happen

Nothing has gone wrong so far in any of my projects. But I won't wait until something does. So today, I'm culling my project list.

Still my problem remains, which ones?

I still need to read the chapter on how to manage ideas and figure out what to do.

Go ahead. Order your copy of Making Things Happen by Scott Berkun and tell us what you think.

 

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