Why I Put Executive Time Back In My Week

I was at a short seminar today, and something said there reminded me that I had been a little lax in my job as Director of the company.

I get so busy producing my product every day that I "forget" to look at the company as a whole.

What I used to do

A few years ago I had a scheduled "Executive Time" once a week.

I reviewed the statistics of the company. I made plans for the coming week, month and year, and reviewed the existing ones. I sat down and looked at everything "from above".

It was very successful in helping me plan to expand the company.

What happened

Then I got busy.

My weekly Executive Time flew out of the window, and I have not brought it back since. Needless to say, the planning went with it. I have been working day by day, with no overview of the big picture.

So I have resolved to bring Executive Time back. I reviewed what has been happening and put some planning in motion to restart the expansion plans. Great fun!

The second reminder

The seminar also reminded me to schedule all the necessary actions in my week.

Most one-man-bands like me know this problem. You have lots of work on, so you just work and work and work.

Then the work is all done. But you were so busy working that you did no advertising or promotion. The work dries up, and now you have to promote like crazy to get customers, because you do not have enough right now.

Rather than ride that roller coaster, why not build some time into your schedule for a daily or weekly bit of promotion or advertising? That way you keep a steady stream of customers.

I am not just the bookkeeper

I sometimes need to remind myself that I am not only the "bookkeeper". I am also the company Director, with a whole company to look after.

That includes all the functions you would find in any company: legal, reception, marketing and promotion, sales, accounts, quality control and PR.

Scheduling all those functions into my week helps me stay on top of it. Well, unless you get new regulations, such as DPR, which took 2 whole days out of my busy week last month!

Anyhow, why not make yourself a schedule for the week, and see what happens?

Give it a try.

As always, keep it simple and... Flourish and Prosper. Lisa