The Value of Your Time

At a conference this year, I heard many self employed and small business owners lamenting how hard they were working, yet not gaining any new business growth or profit. In today’s business environment many emerging entrepreneurs mistakenly attempt to wear all the hats when running their business. Instead of hiring someone to conduct some of the work for them, they mistakenly believe that they are saving money by doing everything themselves.

For every hour you spend during prime business growing hours working on tasks that are costing you (ie your website, your marketing copy, accounting) you are actually losing up to twice that amount in potential business growth. Many entrepreneurs lose sight of how much it actually costs them to wear all the hats.

As an example, if your goal is an income of $100,000 in a year, (for 8 hours a day, 50 weeks work and considering 2 weeks for standard vacation) your hourly work value is $50 per hour. So, if you could hire someone for $20 hour to manage your bookkeeping, and instead you do it yourself, it is now actually costing you $100 an hour. How? If you paid someone $20 from your $50 hour, you have a potential profit of $30 in that hour. If you do that job for yourself, you are now paying $50 for the hour (your hourly value), and since you are not producing any income during that time, you are losing another $50 of your potential income. Plus, many times it will take you twice as long to do the job that the bookkeeper can do because it is their expertise, and you may have a learning curve.

Years ago, I heard a statement “there is no such thing as a free lunch. Everything has a cost against your bottom line”.

Check it out for yourself and see if this is true.

Someone was bragging recently that she got free software to do the graphics for her website, so she doesn’t need to hire a graphic artist anymore. However, she now has to take the time to learn the program, and learn how to make her graphics look as professional as if a professional did the work. All the while taking away from doing her own business and producing an income.

If you believe you must do it all, then schedule any non-income producing tasks in your non-income hours instead of watching TV you will find more profit in your business. If you are wearing all the hats because you believe you must keep expenses down, energetically you are giving out the message that expenses are bad. People can feel that from you. Just remember, what is income to you, may be someone else’s expense. Since energy is reciprocal, what you are willing to give to others will return to you.

Delegating and hiring others to do what they do best, and do it for you, opens the field of energy for people to pay you for your products and services.

Focus on abundance for your business. The more abundant your business, the more you will see how expenses are taken care in the flow of abundance.

I am a real nag about planning. When you write an effective business plan or a marketing plan, you are focused on results. You have a blueprint to follow which can be adjusted as you grow. When you focus on your business growth you will find more ways to grow your business. Some things you may not have seen before will suddenly be in your line of sight. A support person will show up, or a new client will be referred to you. Those daily miracles occur. I suggest that you spend your time wisely and realize the value of your time.

Sumner M. Davenport is an Entrepreneur Coach, Self Worth Advocate, Author & Speaker. Her greatest passion is seeing people live the life of their dreams while assisting others to do the same. She encourages people to question their premature cognitive commitments and discover their own answers for their lives.She is quoted often and one of her quotes was voted to be included in the Top 10 Healthy Thoughts of 2007

20 Ways to Tell Someone “NO”

By Ramona Creel

Tell me if this sounds familiar -- someone asks you to do something that you really don’t want to do or you honestly don’t have time for. It might be a church bake sale, a school fundraiser, participating on a committee, or even just working late. But you feel like you will let the other person down if you say no. You feel GUILTY already, and you haven’t even responded yet! So you say, “Sure,” even though doing so is going to put you under tremendous stress and PRESSURE. You know that you will probably end up resenting this activity, and maybe even ducking some of your responsibilities because your heart’s just not in it, but you go ahead and agree anyway.

Why are we so afraid to tell people "no”? For some reason, we have been taught that "no" is DISRESPECTFUL -- and even insulting. We seem to value other people's time more than our own -- feeling that we need to bend over backward to accommodate others, even if it inconveniences us. I know we're atoning for the "me" 1980's, but let's be reasonable! "No" is actually one of the healthiest words that can come out of your mouth. When you tell someone "no," you are really saying that you understand and accept your own LIMITS, and don't want to do a shoddy job by overwhelming yourself. That you value your time and priorities and aren't willing to take away from the truly important things in your life. A little selfishness is necessary, if you want to maintain a balanced and sane life!

So how do you say "no" without insulting the other person, feeling consumed with guilt, or hurting your own credibility? We need to find a way to say "no" without dragging up all of those HIDDEN FEARS -- they'll think I'm lazy or selfish, that I have no career drive, that I'm not ambitious, that I have no concern for other people. And it's time to give up all of those roles you're so proud of -- supermom, martyr, hero -- but are keeping you from finding true peace. Once you've accepted that you have the right (and often responsibility) to turn someone down, you can do it in a way that doesn't seem like a REJECTION. Let me show you how:

"I CAN'T RIGHT NOW, BUT I CAN DO IT LATER"
If you really want to help the person but don't have time now, tell them so. Offer a later time or date -- if they can't wait for you they will find someone else.

"I'M REALLY NOT THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON FOR THE JOB"
If you don't feel that you have adequate skills to take on a task, that's okay. It's better to admit your limitations up front than feel overwhelmed down the road.

"I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY ROOM IN MY CALENDAR RIGHT NOW"
Be honest if your schedule is filled -- and "filled" doesn't have to mean really FILLED! It just means you have scheduled as much as you are willing and you're stopping.

"I CAN'T, BUT LET ME GIVE YOU THE NAME OF SOMEONE WHO CAN"
If you aren't available to help out, offer another qualified resource. Professionals do this all the time when they refer a client to a colleague.

"I HAVE ANOTHER COMMITMENT"
And it doesn't matter what that commitment is. It could be a meeting or a dentist appointment or a day in the park with your kid. The point is, you aren't available.

"I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SEVERAL PROJECTS AND CAN'T SPARE THE TIME"
Let people know when you have already accepted other responsibilities -- no one is going to fault you for having already filled your plate.

"I'VE HAD A FEW THINGS COME UP AND I NEED TO DEAL WITH THOSE FIRST"
Unexpected things happen that throw your schedule off -- it happens. So accept that you may need to make a few adjustments until your life stabilizes again.

"I WOULD RATHER DECLINE THAN END UP DOING A MEDIOCRE JOB"
Knowing that you aren't able to deliver a quality product -- for whatever reason -- is reason enough for turning a request down.

"I'M REALLY FOCUSING MORE ON MY PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE RIGHT NOW"
People act ashamed of wanting to spend time with their families -- like it means they don't have goals. Having a strong family is a goal in and of itself!

"I'M REALLY FOCUSING MORE ON MY CAREER RIGHT NOW"
The reverse is true also -- you may have to give up some civic or community duties to focus your energies on a work-related task (and that's fine, too!)

"I REALLY DON'T ENJOY THAT KIND OF WORK"
Who said you were supposed to enjoy your chores and assignments?! Well, if you don't enjoy them, why do them? Life isn't about drudgery and boredom.

"I CAN'T, BUT I'M HAPPY TO HELP OUT WITH ANOTHER TASK"
If someone asks you to do something you really despise, refuse -- but then offer to help with something you find more enjoyable or stimulating.

"I'VE LEARNED IN THE PAST THAT THIS REALLY ISN'T MY STRONG SUIT"
Another way of admitting your limitations. Did you know that actually makes you stronger? Knowing what you can handle and what you can't is a tremendous talent!

"I'M SURE YOU WILL DO A WONDERFUL JOB ON YOUR OWN"
Many times, people ask for help because they doubt their own abilities. Let the other person know that you have confidence that they will succeed.

"I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT, SO I CAN'T HELP YOU"
Volunteering to help out shouldn't mean that you have to learn an entirely new set of skills. Offer to help out with something you already know how to do.

"I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT"
You might be uncomfortable with the people involved, the type of work, the moral implications -- this is a very respectful way to avoid a sticky situation.

"I HATE TO SPLIT MY ATTENTION AMONG TOO MANY PROJECTS"
Let people know that you want to do a good job for them -- but that you can't when your focus is too divided or splintered.

"I'M COMMITTED TO LEAVING SOME TIME FOR MYSELF IN MY SCHEDULE"
Selfish, selfish, selfish! But in a good way! Treat your personal time like any other appointment -- block it off in your calendar and guard it with your life!

"I'M NOT TAKING ON ANY NEW PROJECTS RIGHT NOW"
You aren't saying that you will never help out again -- just that you feel your schedule is as full as you would like right now.

"NO"
Sometimes it's okay just to say no! Just make sure that you say it in a way that expresses respect and courtesy -- that leaves the door open for good relations.


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Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com -- offering "a world of organizing solutions!" Visit www.onlineorganizing.com for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau -- and even get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you. And if you are interested in becoming a Professional Organizer, we have all the tools you need to succeed.(Copyright Ramona Creel).



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