Time is Money

It’s been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste. -Henry Ford

Over the years, I’ve kept this quote, along with a few others, tucked in the fold of my wallet. Now, whether you’re a work-a-holic or not, you really do have to agree with the logic offered here by the father of Ford.

 

I’m not saying you have to work constantly, but if your goal is to pass someone or some company, there’s no other option.

Think about your average work day. What fills it? Is it work with interrupting breaks for Facebook or a text message? Is it meetings that cut into your work time or is a combination of things? Often times, I find my day chopped into little pieces of work time and meetings. As I head from meeting to meeting, I have to make calls in the car or in my office and I’m responding to emails all day long.

 

When most people go home, I begin my actual work time. It’s quite, the phone doesn’t ring and it’s my turn to return emails.

I look for these tiny nooks and crannies throughout my day to get ahead. If I have a ton of emails piling up, I’ll return half of them while waiting for a meeting. If I’m driving to my next meeting, I’ll return phone calls. I find that making use of those spare 5 and 10 minutes makes all of the difference.

 

Want to get an extra hour out of your day?

Instead of returning phone calls when you have time, save them up on a post-it-note. When you get in your car, stick the post-it-note to your dash and make your calls, one at a time. You’ll be amazed how much time you waste listening to music while you’re driving. Plus, everyone will be happier getting a return call quicker.

 

Cheers all,
Nate