Timing and Respect

Time management in small business is a critical skill.  Also, it is vital to be respectful of other people's time.  In reading a great book A Sense of Urgency, by John Kotter, it has become clear to me that urgency is something we all could do with quite a bit more of!  Don't be confused by distractions and "busy work" - stay focused on measurable tasks which connect with goals and objectives to help your life (and/or your business) become both more meaningful and more efficient.

Further, by treating time with the respect it deserves, others tend to respond favorably to your message.  You acknowledge the importance of other's time, you do what you say in the time allotted and your credibility increases.  All of our time is valuable.  As a consultant, I am amazed at what some some businesses or advisers do with time.  Sales people interrupt our days and I find myself directing them to an appointment or turning down any "opportunity." One appointment I had today was with Time Warner.  They wanted a $15,000+ buying decision today, with no real discussion or evaluation or study of the program proposed.  Of course this was impossible.  Further, by shortening the meeting to 3 minutes, neither my time nor the sales reps was wasted.

So for today - remember time is worthy of respect and your punctuality and swift decision making is part of what makes you nimble and effective in business.