The Conundrum of Time

In business, time is money.  So, why do so many business people disregard time, both their own and others.  How often have you dealt with the individual who always claims to be so busy?  They repeatedly make commitments and then do one of three things:  forget them, try to do other things while making a half-hearted commitment or change them at the last minute.

This is not a person who is busy.  This is a person who is disorganized or inconsiderate, perhaps both.  Why is that person’s time more valuable than yours?  It’s not.  When you encounter this type of person evaluate if the business on the table is more than talk.  If you believe it is and you choose to pursue it, don’t think you will change this person or that your interaction will be different.  Talk to other people who have dealt with this individual in a business capacity.  Finally, evaluate if the built in overhead of late, non-focused or canceled interactions are really worth your time.  If the answer is yes, consider adding a ten to fifteen per cent cushion to your fees to offset the additional overhead.

Most important of all, if you don’t value your time others won’t.  You have the same number of hours as your competitors and collaborators.  How you choose to use them will contribute significantly to your ability to succeed.