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When setting priorities in your business, start by looking at the things that lead directly to revenue. Most businesses are in business to create revenue, and if the things you’re working on aren’t leading to revenue, you’re working on the wrong things.
So the key question you should always be asking is:
Is this something that leads me directly to revenue? Or should I be delegating this to someone else. One of the biggest problems business owners face when attempting to get their priorities in line is distractions. Most of the time, if you’re a business owner working out of an office, those distractions are right in your field of view and constantly taking your attention away from your most important activities.
3 Piles Strategy
Gather up everything sitting on your desk or in your office and put it in the following piles:
- Things that have to be taken care of in the next 24 hours
- Things that have to be taken care of in the next week
- Everything else
- First Pile: Take care of immediately
- Second Pile: Figure out what needs to be done or delegated
- Third Pile: Throw out.
First, look at each priority. Determine how much time each will take, then put them on your calendar. Treat those calendar appointments with the same respect and urgency you give to a client appointment. Timeblocking, combined with protecting those timeblocks, gives you the best chance to continually bring focused time and attention to your highest-value, revenue-driving activities.
So once again, here are the key questions for Setting Priorities:
- Does this activity lead me to revenue?
- Am I getting rid of all distractions that hinder my focus?
- Am I putting time down in my calendar to focus on the things I’ve identified as important?
