Here is the main article from the May newsletter for financial advisers. If you'd like to read the full newsletter or to receive it automatically each month, you can register by entering your email in the box on the left.
When you want to get better control of your time start saying no more often.
Many busy or naturally helpful people say yes to everything and then wonder why they have no time for themselves or to focus on the more important aspects of their business.
If you keep saying yes, you take on more and more and in the end something has to give and you’ll end up letting someone down or won’t be able to spend the time and effort that a particular piece of work deserves because you’ve got too much to do.
It can be easier to say yes, as it saves having to give a reason as to why you can’t do something or avoid any awkwardness or guilt in saying no.
What is the consequence of saying yes all the time?
- You end up working late just to get everything done.
- You miss out on something you’d rather be doing or have to put things off.
- You have no free time because you’ve filled every minute with things you’ve said yes to.
- You end up stressed out, overworked and ill.
Be more selective – avoid saying yes unless you know what’s really involved. What might appear to be just a five minute job or just an hourly commitment once a month can end up being a lot more.
How long will it really take, what’s involved, do you have capacity, interest and motivation to take it on?
- What are you saying yes to?
- What are you saying no to?
While you don’t necessarily want to say no to clients, sometimes you need to. Are they the right fit for you and your business? Reluctant or difficult clients can be a drain on your time, resources and energy if you let them.
If you say yes to everything you won’t have the time available when the right opportunity or the ideal client does come along. You’ll be so busy working on lower value projects that you won’t have time for anything else.
What other situations or requests come up every day that you could say no to?
Don’t say yes immediately, especially when you don’t know what you’re taking on. If you take something extra on, something has to go, whether it’s your free-time, time with family, friends or another piece of work – is that what you want?
Say no before you say yes or find other ways of saying no without being harsh, abrupt or feeling guilty.
“I’m too busy to do that at the moment”
“Can I get back to you when I have checked my diary?”
“That’s not something that interests me.”
“I can’t help you but perhaps … can.”
“I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
Say no when you’re interrupted by phone calls, email or other people and it’s not a convenient time. Don’t answer the phone if you’re busy.
Be clear when you say no and don’t replace it with maybe, that’s neither yes nor no and just means you’re putting off the decision.
Apply this to both your business and personal life – demands on our personal time mean that you often end up with no time for yourself in the evening and at weekends.
It’s your time, it’s your choice as to how you spend it and if you want to be more productive, be more selective about what you’re saying yes to.
Get your time under control. Call me for a free, no-obligation 30-minute focus session.
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