When you started your own business or left your corporate job in the pursuit of the entrepreneur’s dream, you no doubt imagined that you would have more control over your hours.  You pictured having an actual life, outside of work.  Yet, if you didn’t take certain steps to protect your time, you might have found that you are working MORE not less.  What went wrong?

Time is one of the few things that you will never get back.  Recently, a four-year-old child asked his mother, “Mom, when will it be July 2010 again?”  It seemed like a logical question to this young child, but the answer only caused some confusion and a tinge of sadness.

Watch out for time vampires.
You have to fight hard to protect your time from the “time vampires” who want to steal it away.  These are people who stop by your office and want to chat or call you on the phone and ask, “do you have a minute?” A minute turns into 15 or 30 minutes.  The next thing you know, it is dark outside and you still haven’t finished your work for the day.

How do you protect yourself from these so-called time vampires?  You have to set rules and let everyone know them.  For example, establish certain hours where you will take phone calls. Let your employees know that when your door is closed, you are not to be disturbed.

You are in control.
As a small business owner, you are pulled in many different directions and the additional hours you spend at the office or store, are hours taken away from your family.  You are the controller of your time – don’t let anyone take it away from you without your permission.

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