Sometimes I come across a book that has great principals and ideas that must be shared. I read Time Traps by Todd Duncan a couple of years ago and found it extremely beneficial. I learned a lot and still use many of the principals. I picked it up again because I have found myself falling into many of the traps he talks about. As I was making notes it occurred to me that many of my friends and fellow business owners can benefit from this book as well. Below you find many of the great principals and tips from the book.
Taking one or two ideas from this book can help you increase your business and life. The main thing I learned from this book is that by organizing my business I will free up more time to enjoy my life. So many people spend their lives trying to earn more and more money and miss out on life. Todd shares principals on how to earn more while living a better life.
I hope you find this as valuable as I did.
Have a blessed week,
Joseph Cortez
Notes from Time Traps by Todd Duncan
“Many of us have given up trying to control our schedules and have accepted and existence in which chaos and catch-up are the status quo. One clever woman summed up her surrender this way”: (Todd Duncan – Time Traps)
The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest.
It makes me lie down only when exhausted.
It leads me to deep depression, it hounds my soul.
It leads me in circles of frenzy for activity’s sake.
Even though I run frantically from task to task.
I will never get it all done, for my “ideal” is with me.
Deadlines and my need for approval, they drive me.
They demand performance from me, beyond the limits of my schedule.
They anoint my head with migraines, my in-basket over-flows.
Surely fatigue and time pressure shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the bonds of frustration forever.
Maria K. Hornok, Psalm 23 Antithesis
Great Principals and quotes from the book.
“Nearly every professional struggles with time.” – admit it and take steps to get better.
- “Time is to be invested not spent”
- “We cannot manage time, but we can manage the thought and actions that fill our time.”
- “If you don’t have boundaries on your business, you won’t have balance in your life.” This is the only way to truly have free time.
- Learn to say “No”.
- Learn to let go – “some things, if they are not let go, begin to control us, or worse they begin to consumer our time.” Todd’s steps to letting go are below:
- Step 1. Hire yourself – set aside specific time to handle paperwork etc. and nothing else
- Step 2 – utilize help your company provides – software, personnel etc.
- Step 3 – Hire a part-time assistant – start with 20 hours a week
- Step 4 – Build a team
- “Sometimes technology isn’t better. It’s just prettier.”
- “The more time you spend working, the more your identity is tied up in your work.” – take some time for yourself and discover the non work you.
- Identify and sort customers. Your goal is low maintenance / high return customers, not high maintenance / low return ones.
Tips:
- “Don’t give your personal digits to customers or coworkers – separate business and work.” Giving your clients personal access to you all the time isn’t the definition of good customer service.
- “Don’t give work digits to friends.” – avoid personal calls as much as possible during the work day. This easily eats up hours a week.
- “Turn off instant message and e-mail alert functions on your work computer.”
- “Don’t answer the phone unless it is someone you are expecting.” – If part of your job is to answer the phone for a business then answer the phone. The idea is to reduce interruption. I return calls during designated time.
- “Don’t check personal e-mail during work hours.” –
“The only time that counts is the time that you make count. Time matters, today matters – make it your masterpiece!’
Todd Duncan
Check out Todd Duncans Books at Amazon.com or go to www.ToddDuncan.com
Joseph Cortez 
I enjoy reading your Blog…….sensible factors with solutions.