5 Biggest Entrepreneur Time-Wasters

An entrepreneur is a very busy person. There’s always so much to do and so little time. It’s an old, familiar complaint. But, there are probably ways you’re wasting time here and there. And, these can add up to a lot, over the course of a week or month. The problem is often identifying what actually wastes time and what’s really worthwhile. So, let’s take a look at the top entrepreneur time-wasters to make you a more productive leader.

Yes, Time is Money

First, let’s revisit an old cliché — “time is money.” Now, it’s undoubtedly true. We all know that it’s an inescapable conclusion. However, we too often let time get away from us in a number of ways. It’s not that we don’t necessarily stick to a schedule. It’s more about what we don’t commit our time to. In other words, the biggest time-wasters are things we don’t expressly plan for.

We all wish that we could be more productive. But, how is that possible when assignments keep piling up, the latest season of Orange is the New Black just appeared on Netflix, and you have a flurry of emails, texts, and social media notifications distracting you? —Inc.com

Just let that sink in for a moment. If you aren’t dutifully working on this or that, and don’t have a commitment at-hand, you’re quite likely to waste time meandering about. Of course, it’s not possible to plan every minute of every day. But, it does mean it’s worth the effort to fill in those gaps, when possible. Use some of that time to take a break. Also, use some more of that time to just reflect or think about the next step. Then, try to make the rest of that “free time” productive.

5 Biggest Entrepreneur Time-Wasters

So, what are the biggest entrepreneur time-wasters? Well, a few just might surprise you. Let’s just get the most obvious out-of-the-way to start — social media. It’s easy to lose track of time on social media. Since most entrepreneurs know this, they try to avoid it. But, there are still other huge time-waters:

  • Unplanned mornings. Take a few moments at the end of the day to plan the next. If you don’t, you’ll probably fall prey to disorganization or at worst, chaos. Make a prioritized list to follow with the largest challenges at the top.
  • Redundant work. There’s probably more than one way you’re duplicating your efforts or essentially doing unnecessary work more than once. Try to automate as much as possible. It’s surprising just how much more time you can squeeze out of a day when you’re not as redundant.
  • Business travel. With all the available technology, in-person meetings are easy to accomplish, even if you’re physically hundreds or thousands of miles away. Sure, there are times when it’s absolutely necessary but delegate what you can and telecommute when possible.
  • Multitasking. You might have heard that women are better than men at multitasking. While this is marginally true, it’s also now known humans aren’t good at multitasking. Even if you are able to multitask, you’re still dividing your attention. And, that’s a sure-fire way to make mistakes.

What other time-wasters would you add to the list? Please share your thoughts by commenting!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Like this article?

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Linkdin
Share on Pinterest

Related Posts

Debunking Entrepreneurial Myths. What New Company Owners Don’t Actually Need to Do

Starting a new company is an exhilarating and challenging endeavor that often comes with a long list of to-dos. However, amidst the excitement and eagerness to succeed, entrepreneurs can fall into the trap of believing they must do certain things that are not actually necessary for the initial stages of their venture. So, let’s go ahead and debunk some common myths surrounding startup requirements and shed light on what new company owners don’t actually need to do. Debunking Entrepreneurial Myths: What New Company Owners Don’t Actually Need to Do Starting a new company is a daunting task. There are so many things to think about, and it can be easy to get caught up in the details. However, there are some things that entrepreneurs often believe they need to do when starting a new company that they don’t actually need to do. Like the following: Perfecting every detail. While attention to detail is crucial for any business, obsessing over perfection in every aspect of your startup can lead to unnecessary delays and increased stress. It’s important to remember that launching a new company is a dynamic process, and adjustments and improvements can be made along the way. Instead of striving for perfection from the outset, focus on building a solid foundation and refining your business as it evolves. Extensive market research. Market research is undoubtedly important for understanding your target audience, industry trends, and potential competitors. However, many entrepreneurs spend excessive time and resources conducting extensive market research before launching their businesses. While having a basic understanding of your target market is crucial, it’s equally important to take action and gain real-world feedback from customers. Embrace a “lean startup” mentality, gather feedback through early prototypes or minimum viable products, and iterate based on customer responses. Super-sized funding rounds. Securing substantial funding is often perceived as a prerequisite for launching a successful company. While funding can undoubtedly accelerate growth, it is not an absolute necessity in the early stages. In fact, focusing too much on raising funds can distract entrepreneurs from the core aspects of their business, such as developing a compelling value proposition and acquiring initial customers. By focusing on building a viable product or service and demonstrating traction, entrepreneurs can attract investors when the time is right. Over-elaborate product development. Entrepreneurs sometimes believe that their product must be fully developed and feature-rich before launching. However, this can lead to prolonged development cycles and missed market opportunities. Instead, embrace the concept of a minimum viable product (MVP) that focuses on delivering a core set of features that solve a specific problem for your target audience. Launching an MVP allows you to gather valuable customer feedback early on and iterate your product based on real-world usage. Hiring a large team. While having a talented team is essential for the long-term success of a company, hiring a large workforce from the outset is not always necessary or feasible for start-ups. In fact, it can be downright counterproductive. This is because you’ll spend a lot of time (too much time) training, onboarding, and more – all of which could be used in much more useful ways. This approach can help startups stay nimble and flexible, enabling them to adapt to changes in the market and grow more rapidly. Starting a new company is a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By avoiding the things that entrepreneurs often believe they need to do when starting a new company but don’t actually need to do, you can save yourself time, money, and stress. What other things do you think entrepreneurs don’t actually need when forming a start-up? Please, go ahead and share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your input! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

Read More »