If they are wasting time, how can they claim they are busy? Because they ARE busy, but they are busy doing things that are not important or busy doing things others impose on them.



People who seriously want to lead a successful, productive personal life with financial freedom usually have a low tolerance for time that is wasted foolishly. They have an even lower tolerance for those who cause them to waste time.

We are all familiar with the following kind of people. Susie Social likes to drop by the office and chat numerous times a week. Peter Planner lives to schedule another meeting. Sam Cellfone expects you to answer each and every time he calls you. Vinnie Vendor wants to review his order for the fourth time because he just wants to get as much face time with you as possible. Lastly, there is Kellie Client, who demands instant access to you at all times, or she will take her business elsewhere.

The people in your life who drain you of your time and energy have many weapons with which to "attack": cell phones, email, memos, visits, gossip, etc. Are there any sure-fire tricks to do away with these people's wasting of your time and productivity? Actually, not really. You just need to learn to put up your guard and draw firm boundaries.

It is a good idea to have scheduled times to check email, once or twice a day. Also, consider turning off your phone during intense work sessions and when you are off work. You don't have to answer the phone just because it rings. People will take from you as much time as you will give them, and they will interrupt as often as you allow them to. Don't let their supposed emergency dictate your schedule.

When you have people in your life that frequently give you trouble in the area of time management, try this approach. Practice a "three strikes" rule. This can be used with employees, vendors, or even clients, when appropriate. Give them three opportunities to learn that they cannot expect to have instant access to you at all times. If a person wants to chat, explain to them that you are working hard to meet a deadline and then ask if there is something that you can help them with. If a client calls to nit-pick over some issue for the third time, assure him that you will take care of the issue and that there is no need for further checking in.

Basically, figure out an appropriate way to convey the message, "I don't waste time, and I won't allow you to waste it for me". You don't have to be ugly, but by the third "talk" with any one person, you should be nothing short of very direct about your expectations. If that doesn't do the trick, then simply put an end to their opportunity to interrupt you needlessly.

Time is a precious commodity, yet, we often don't take care of it the way we should. We guard our money carefully, and it can be replaced, but we fail to guard our time in the same way. Don't forget? lost time is gone forever.