I work with a lot of business owners. Like you, I work with small business owners in my business life as well as my personal life. Every once in a while I want to grab them by the shoulders and try to snap them out of whatever delusion they are seemingly in. Life doesn’t have to be this hard. Especially if you have started your own business and have it rolling already. Did you start your business to get a heart attack at an awkwardly early age?
I’ll give any business owners some slack that are less than 2 years in or had a major loss in employees or customers. Occasionally the universe wants to make sure you are as tough as you think you are. But if you are running around frantic, missing appointments and being late constantly while seemingly running at 120 miles per hour all day and every day, something is awry. Race cars weren’t made not to pit.
Let me be the first to admit that I set my cruise on 120 very often. Most of the time people that know me would say that 120 is a casual speed for me. Running fast and hard is almost a necessity for business owners. Let me follow that by saying that I do not run that fast 40 hours per week. I probably barely crack 20. That is why I do not need to crack 30 hours per week. Sometimes not even 25, at least in any given business. The beauty of running fast is to finish sooner. Burning that much fuel with that much violence for more than 40 hours a week is crazy, in my opinion. You can just get a normal job and waste at least 20 hours a week and not be so stressed. The point is to run fast on the right track. Racing around for no reason is not progress, it’s wasteful. Why are you racing around, anyways?
You know that is not the story many business owners tell themselves, is it? They tell themselves just to get past this deadline or presentation or meeting or sale or purchase or contract or commitment. It will all be easier after that. Does that really ever happen? Does the end ever show up? We all delude ourselves with untruths that we convince ourselves are real everyday.
Remember the last time you were late? Maybe it was traffic or time slipped away from you. As you were on your way to the appointment or meeting you justified your tardiness in your head. It’s only a couple minutes. They just chat in the beginning anyways. No one will notice me. This isn’t rude at all. They should be honored by my lateness.
I want to give credit to my wife for this. Tardiness is a huge pet peeve of hers. I was a guy that tried to fit 5 hours of stuff in a 1 hour time slot. Typically I would fit it in an hour and 20 minutes, which is pretty effective from my point of view. Though it turns out that if you are routinely 20 minutes late to meeting your wife, she doesn’t care why you were late. She and most other people care that you made them wait. Here is one of those times that the reason is not important. The fact that you felt compelled to waste their time is the screaming detail that you need to take notice of.
Respect those that are willing to meet with you. Even if you are paying them. Time is our most precious resource. Everyone has the same amount each day. Some people just value it more than others. I am certain that whatever value people place on their time they likely consider it more valuable than anyone else’s. This includes yours, mine and likely everyone else.
So here is my suggestion. Race when the race is ready and needed. Then go home and enjoy your life. You are too awesome to miss all of the fun you are having.
James is a Business Coach and Mentor for Draw In Customers. He has helped clients improve their time management to make their lives easier and the people they serve happier. Which made them and their own clients happier. If you would like to achieve your business success goals, and be on time doing it, James has some tips for you and is available every once in a while to share them. Simply call to schedule a chat with him at (608)210-2221.
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