Whether you’re in real estate or another profession, time is always your most valuable asset. How you use it can have a huge impact on the short- and long-term results you get in your business and in your life. If you can be efficient with your time, you will be able to optimize your working hours and achieve goals big and small.
Follow these strategies to make the most of the minutes you have each day.
1. Set clear time goals
What do you hope to accomplish in the coming week? What about the coming month or year? To stay on track and achieve your goals, it can be helpful to define the main objectives. In his book “Traction”, the author Gino Wickman advocates identifying a big dream, then breaking it down into 3-year, 1-year, and 90-day goals. Once you know these goals, you can prioritize them. After you set schedules to accomplish these major goals, you can spend the remaining time on other tasks.
2. Tackle the Difficult Tasks First
When I look at a day, I like to write down the three things I need to accomplish during it, which are based on my overall goals and objectives. I also work to complete these tasks early in the morning if possible. The concept of “eat the ugly frog first” originated from Mark Twain and also applies here. This means taking care of the difficult tasks first. If you can do them right away, before other distractions set in, you will have the advantage of being clear-headed and calm. You can also remove them immediately from your plate, making it easier to carry out subsequent tasks.
3. Block time strategically
If you don’t take the time to focus on the important things, you’ll quickly find yourself busy with busy work. For me, that means scheduling time to make calls and focus on the conversations that are happening. I also try to batch emails and check messages only three times a day, morning, noon and evening.
4. Be present and avoid multitasking
Although it can be easy to try to multitask, if you are able to be present in the moment, it can help you be as efficient as possible. You will be able to focus on the person you are speaking with or the meeting you are attending. You’ll also avoid wasted time going back and forth between making a call, checking emails, writing a report, etc. This intentional approach helps reduce interruptions that could slow down your productivity.
5. Leverage team strengths
I wouldn’t be able to do everything alone, so I rely on team members to help me in many areas, including promotional work and administrative tasks. Building a good team and understanding individual strengths can help you accomplish an exponential amount. You’ll be able to delegate tasks based on their expertise and configure systems to create a more streamlined workflow. Plus, having people on your team creates accountability that can help everyone achieve more.
6. Be conscious of how you spend your time
Being aware of what you do at different times of the day can help you create a productive schedule. You’ll want to use your time in the best way possible and know which tasks generate the most value for your business. At one point, my coach asked me to make a time map to track my activities. Based on the data collected, I began color-coding my calendar. This has helped me visually see my schedule and know how I spend my time.
7. Keep meetings efficient
Influential figures like Mike Bloombergformer mayor of New York, and Gary Vaynerchuk, a proponent of the “7 Minute Meeting,” emphasizes keeping discussions focused and precise. You may be able to cover tasks and materials with your team in just 10 minutes instead of the planned 45-minute session, for example.
8. Take the time to think big
As a coach Rod Santomassimo points out, it can be helpful to evaluate the times when you are working “in” your business rather than “on” your business. “In” the business refers to overseeing daily task lists and required maintenance. Focusing “on” the business means setting aside time to develop larger goals that you want to work toward. You’ll generally want to have a balance between the two and be aware of how often you do each.
While it’s not easy to implement all of these tactics right away, you might consider choosing one and making it a habit. You can then add more strategies as you see fit. Collectively, using your time well can lead to greater balance and higher levels of success in all areas of your business and life.