The Business Blind Spots that Keep You Busy, not Productive

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Remember to align your actions with your core values and high-level goals.

Do you ever feel like your to-do list is never-ending and no matter how much you accomplish, there are always more tasks piling up? As a driven female entrepreneur, juggling multiple responsibilities can become overwhelming and can keep you stuck in place, spinning your wheels. But what if I told you that you can cut your to-do list in half without sacrificing productivity? In this blog post, we'll explore some valuable insights from a recent episode of The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast. Here are some of the proven ways to free up time, energy, effort and get more done by doing less. 

1. Getting Quiet and Introspective: Finding the Answers Within

Sometimes, the answers we seek to simplify our to-do list can be found within ourselves. Getting quiet and introspecting allows us to tap into our intuition and gain clarity on what truly matters. Take the time this summer to identify the underlying issues behind your packed schedule. By digging deep and understanding your motivations and drivers, you can align your actions with your core values and let go of tasks that don't contribute to meaningful progress.

2. Time Optimism: A Skewed Perception of Time

One of the main culprits behind an overwhelming to-do list is what I call "time optimism" and others call "time blindness." We either believe we don't have enough time to start something or think we have more time than we actually do to finish something. This skewed perception of time leads us to constantly add new tasks to our list without properly estimating how long they will take to complete. By learning to manage time better, we can become more intentional about what we commit to and say yes to, resulting in fewer items on our defer list.

3. Focusing on the Right Things: Avoiding the Trap of Hustle Culture

In today's hustle culture, it's easy to get caught up in the belief that the more we work, the more successful we'll be. However, constantly hustling without direction, intention and purpose can lead to burnout and a never-ending to-do list. Instead, it's crucial to prioritize the right things and the most important tasks. We need to identify our high-level goals, such as increasing income, expanding impact, or scaling our businesses. By aligning your actions with these goals, you can focus your time, energy, focus, and effort on tasks that truly move you forward.

4. Energetic Bandwidth: Knowing Your Productive Hours

Understanding your energetic bandwidth is key to using your time wisely.  Most people have around 4 hours of high-quality creative energy per day. Yet, the expectation we have from our time in the corporate workplace is to work for 8 hours straight. By knowing your productive hours, you can prioritize high-quality tasks and avoid wasting time and energy on less important ones. This self-awareness will help you leverage your problem-solving tendencies and ensure that you're using your time and energy efficiently.

5. Embracing Novelty: Intentionally Integrating New Ideas

For many entrepreneurs, novelty is a driving force. They may also have a low tolerance for boredom and constantly seek new ideas and challenges. While this can be stimulating, it can also become a hindrance if not strategically implemented. Constantly changing niches, trying out new tips, tricks, tools, and tactics without purpose can lead to distraction and a never-ending cycle of unfinished tasks. Instead, focus on intentionally integrating novelty into your business strategies, without losing sight of your core goals. This is an ongoing process because this tendency is hardwired, so we need to manage it on a continuous basis. 

6. Adjusting Your Prices: A Key Consideration

One of the main reasons why entrepreneurs find themselves drowning in tasks is the fear of adjusting their prices. Many cling to what's familiar, even if they hate it. But the truth is, raising your prices can not only increase your income but also free up your time. By charging what you're truly worth, you can attract higher-quality clients and focus on delivering exceptional value, rather than overwhelming yourself with an excessive workload.  The lower your prices, the more units of service you need to sell.  It’s worth figuring out how to serve fewer customers at a higher price point. 

7. The Power of a Second Pair of Eyes: Seeking Expert Guidance

Running a business can be a solitary endeavor, but that doesn't mean you have to do it all alone. Sometimes, seeking a second pair of eyes can provide valuable insights that will help streamline your workload. Consider investing in a VIP day with a coach, consultant or strategist to kickstart the changes you want to make and start to create momentum. With their guidance, you can unravel the complexities of your business and identify areas where you can make significant improvements.

As you reflect on the insights shared in this blog post, I encourage you to take action immediately, before they start to be forgotten. Remember to align your actions with your core values and high-level goals. And most importantly, be honest with yourself, embrace self-awareness, and let go of tasks that don't contribute to meaningful progress.

Are you ready to simplify your to-do list and reclaim your time? Feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn or Instagram @coachdiannwingert or send me an email at diann@diannwingertcoaching.com. I'd love to hear your thoughts and support you on your entrepreneurial journey.  If you’d like to hear the full episode on The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast, you can do that here: https://bit.ly/thedrivenwomanpodcast