Why? Because It’s Your Job

I’m about to give you an action you can take that can absolutely transform the results you get in your business. But I warn you, it sounds so simple, it’s easy to think it can’t possibly be that big a deal.

It’s easy to think there’s no way it could be a make-it-or-break-it factor when it comes to the success of your business … but it is.

Before I tell you what it is, let me ask you a question.

When you work for someone else, what do you have to do … in most cases?

You have to show up at a certain time and stay till a certain time. You have to get your work done by a certain date / time or there are consequences. You carry around a calendar with you that pretty much determines where you’ll be, who you’ll be with, and what you’ll be working on.

In other words, there’s an externally imposed structure to your worklife as an employee, even if you’re the CEO.

That all goes away when you work for yourself. You answer to no one but yourself.

The beauty of running your own business … of being self-employed … is that you have the flexibility to work when you want and decide how to spend your time. Hallelujah. True freedom.

So, what’s the problem?

You have the flexibility to work when you want and decide how to spend your time!

It can be as much a curse as a blessing.

You know what I see with most people, even some of my high achievers? They turn that flexibility from a blessing into a curse.

How?

By not “going to work.” Starting whenever. Stopping whenever … with no set number of hours vs. working full days the same way an employee would.

By not working on the most important things they can do for their businesses with the same urgency and diligence as an employee who has a deadline to meet.

By not putting in place the same structures and disciplines that employees have imposed upon them.

So, what’s the simple action that can make all the difference?

Create an overarching work schedule for yourself. I created a master schedule for myself 15 years ago when I started my business full time. I still carry a version of that around with me to this day.

Once you have your master schedule outlining your “big rocks” … your priorities … then go ahead and schedule the tasks that’ll move the ball forward in those areas.

Sample Master Schedule for New Business Owner

Schedule them wisely … and then stick to the schedule.

Like I said, it’s easy advice to dismiss as elementary, and yet, I see problems with this all the time.

Why is scheduling so important? Because what gets scheduled gets done and what doesn’t typically doesn’t.

That’s it. That’s the secret. You go from good-intention land to the land of make-it-happen.

Work in your business and on your business like it’s your job. Don’t be seduced by the “gift” of flexibility or the illusion of freedom from structure.

When you run your own business, the appearance of freedom is your worst enemy.

It’s not that you’re a slave to your business. It’s not as if you aren’t the boss. It’s just that you can’t interpret having freedom as giving you the license to avoiding taking on difficult or unpleasant tasks … to put off what seems too daunting … or let personal matters unrelated to work steal away your time.

Look, I get that many business owners work way more in terms of hours than the typical 9-5 employee does. But many don’t … and those who do often aren’t scheduling their time and their most important work as effectively as they could be … or really scheduling their time at all.

And it shows on the bottom line.

So, if you want your business to thrive and you want to realize your full potential as a business owner, go to work in your business every day like it’s your job.

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