“Back to School” signifies “Back to Business” for many of us.
Fall is a great time for structuring and restructuring, goal setting and establishing good habits. It’s also a great time to hit the reset button for managing personal time and energy.
For you entrepreneurs, who by definition lack the confines of corporate structure and have the great potential to run in a thousand directions simultaneously, fall is an ideal time to think through key questions such as: What is working? What is not working? What is core to my company? What needs time and attention?
I am a big fan of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix that highlights the distinction between important and urgent (there’s even an app for it — Eisenhower.me.). The quote “What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important” is attributed to President Dwight Eisenhower, thus the matrix’ name.
This simple, yet effective, tool allows us to answer only two questions: “Is this task important to achieving my goals?” and “Is this task urgent?”
The only options for each question are yes or no. The best way to envision the answers is as a matrix with “important” on the left vertical and yes on top and no below. Then have “urgent” on the top horizontal axis with yes to the left and no to the right.
If you’re having trouble visualizing the matrix, Google “Eisenhower Decision Matrix,” and you’ll find numerous depictions of the grid.
Quadrant One includes items that are both urgent and important. Quadrant Two represents things that are important but not urgent. Quadrant Three lists things that are urgent but not important, and finally, Quadrant Four is made up of things that are neither urgent nor important.
Simply put, we need to avoid Quadrant Four (not important, not urgent) and transition ourselves from Quadrant Three (not important, urgent) to Two (important, not urgent). But how?
The most critical task is determining goals. Here’s a hint: It has to do with sales.
Too often creative geniuses are so caught up in design. They run the risk of creating something that belongs in a museum but no one is willing to purchase.
As we set our goals this fall, let’s remember that business is business and making money is essential. Set reasonable yet aggressive sales numbers. Break them down into targets such as number of promotions, sales calls, meetings, exact dollar targets, etc. Be specific and stretch.
As to priorities, Quadrant One (important and urgent) is making that call to the big customer. Do it. Though Quadrant One is your top priority, it doesn’t take all your time.
Be sure to focus the additional time on Quadrant Two (important, not urgent). Quadrant Two is the strategy for whom to call, website and brochure displaying offering, product design, etc. Ideally, most of your time is spent here.
Quadrant Three (not important, urgent) are interruptions, usually someone else’s urgent question. Don’t let someone else’s problem become your crisis. Our most successful entrepreneurs don’t look at email constantly but only 10 minutes an hour. They schedule social media in blocked times so they don’t get sucked in.
Successful entrepreneurs spend time with customers, listen intently, and pick up the phone. Quadrant Four (not important, not urgent) are often the small things we should keep small or forget altogether.
Traps to avoid here are things such as spending time trying to save a few dollars on a monthly service bill or rearranging a non critical appointment to be a day or two earlier.
The Eisenhower Decision Matrix is just one time management tool. Use whatever system works best for you, hit your reset button and we’ll see you at the top!
Bea Wray is the executive director of The Creative Coast, a not-for-profit organization that promotes the creative and entrepreneurial community within the region. Bea can be reached at 912-447-8457 or bea@thecreativecoast.org.
By Bea Wray