Are you a salesperson with a flexible schedule? If so… do you mind running an errand for me?
In so many households, it’s the person in sales who gets to pick up deliveries, drop off dry cleaning, meet with the plumber, and run to Costco at lunch. They have a “flexible” schedule, and all these tasks fall to them—just because they don’t punch a time clock at work!
Sound familiar? You are probably wasting five to ten hours a week on tasks that do nothing to move your business forward. If your flexible schedule is working against you, try these three things:
- Focus on your IPA (income producing activities)
- Schedule time for similar activities
- Use “the new normal” to your advantage
Focus On Income Producing Activities
Charlie, the sales guy, is on the way back from a client meeting. He sees a CVS up ahead and figures he should run in and pick up that prescription. It’s only 15 minutes, right?
Charlie just spent valuable time standing in line when he could have spent it on his income producing activity. And now, Charlie’s day doesn’t end at 5:00 PM… it ends at 5:15!
If Charlie runs a few “errands” a day, he could be losing five hours—or even ten hours—of his workweek. It adds up fast!
If you’re too “flexible,” distractions and low-priority tasks will eat up your most productive hours. Time is a limited resource! When you lose an hour of generating revenue, you’ll have to add it back later—or give up that income forever.
Schedule Similar Activities Together & Find Your “Deep Work” State
With a flexible schedule, it’s easy to have no routine at all. When we bounce from task to task, it’s hard to get into a productive, “deep work” state.
Salespeople have different tasks that require different parts of the brain. By grouping similar tasks together and scheduling time to work on each group, you can get into a groove and complete your work more efficiently.
You should devote specific time to fill out paperwork, work on your prospect list, and call prospects during your workday. These are the hours when we’re most alert, productive, and energetic, and they should be used for income producing activities.
Errands or other non-work activities can be grouped in the same way—but scheduled for evenings and weekends. This keeps them from nickel-and-diming your workweek.
Need more ways to keep your calendar under control? Read more about the time management tips and techniques I use to stay effective!
Use “The New Normal” To Your Advantage & Outsource Mundane Tasks
I know, we all hate that phrase, “The New Normal.” But the truth is, millions of us changed our methods of getting mundane, everyday tasks done. Often, “the new normal” actually saves time and gives us more control over our day.
Grocery delivery, online shopping, and curbside pickup aren’t new, of course. But now, they’re everywhere. Why not use them to your advantage?
Identify the tasks that are eating up your workweek, and chances are you can streamline them by delivery or pickup services. Plus, you can schedule exactly when you want those tasks to be done so you’re not being pulled away from your day.
Be less flexible!
Freedom in your workday sounds great—until you realize that freedom is getting in the way of actually getting your work done! When you take control of your day, you’ll get more done and be able to truly enjoy your free time.
Until next time—go sell some stuff!
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