Bill Zimmerman's Weekly Tip - Extraordinary Demands vs. Time Vampires

I hope you've had a productive, good Monday today. As I promised last week, I'll be sharing a few tips on time management over the next several weeks. Most of these will be excerpts from Dan Kennedy's excellent book, "No BS Time Management for Entrepreneurs."

Last week I mentioned a few of many "time vampires" that tend to suck up our time and energy while at work. To the extent we can get them out of our workday, the more productive and profitable your business will become. Take a look at the list below of Extradorinary Demands (things you should prioritze and spend time on) vs. Time Vampires. Mr. Kennedy even gives some good suggestions on how to best 'stick a stake through the heart' of the time vampires in your workday. Enjoy and profit thereby!

Extraordinary Demands V.S.
Time Vampires
(from No BS Time Management for Entrepreneurs, by Dan Kennedy)


Extraordinary Demands include time to:

· Solve problems
· Create
· Invent
· Think
· Plan
· Collect and assimilate information
· Develop sales
· Plan and execute Marketing
· Network


Time Vampires include (but are not limited to):

· Mr. Have you got a minute?
· Ms. Meeting
· Mr. Trivia Interrupter
· Ms. Drama Queen


Time Vampire solutions:

Mr. Have you got a minute?
· Stake: "I'm busy right now. Let's meet at 4:00 for 15 minutes and tackle everything on

your list at one time."
· Will take repetition, but they will eventually learn

Ms. Meeting:
· Hold stand-up only meetings (no chairs)
· Circulate the information some other way – using a memo, email, internet site, bulletin board, conference call
· Set the meeting for immediately before lunch or at the end of the day
· Have a clear, concise written agenda prepared for specific purposes
· Don't serve refreshments
· If you must attend a meeting, have a predetermined exit strategy – someone coming to get you or call you at a certain time, etc.

Mr. Trivia / Interrupter
· "I have an exceptionally busy day, so I am only dealing with 9's and 10's on a 1-10 scale.

Everything else MUST wait until tomorrow. Are you convinced that what you want to talk

to me about is a 9 or 10?

Ms. Drama Queen
· Cut to the core of their problem and offer a solution. This is NOT what they want. They

don't want solutions, they want soap opera. Spoil their fun!

Now it's your turn to share! If you have other time vampires and effective ways to slay them, please email me. I'd love to learn what works for you. In the meantime, have a great week and remember I'm never too busy for your referrals!

Your Partner in Greater Success,

Bill Zimmerman
208-939-0002