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I'm not very good at time management. I suspect I'm not the only one. Early in my career, my manager said I should start each day with a prioritized "To Do" list and prepare the next day's list before leaving the office that day. Perhaps he said "leaving that night." I still do that today, but many of the projects towards the bottom of the list don't get done. However, now I've rediscovered time blocking.
Why don't projects get done? I can think of three reasons:
- Avoidance. I don't want to do them. Prospecting tops the list.
- Down the rabbit hole. I get wrapped up in the small details like wasting time checking an address for one name when there are 500 names to get through. The project stretches on.
- Distractions. Email is a big one for me. The computer screen lets me know new messages have arrived.
Why 30-minute time blocking is the solution
There's another related reason: Fatigue. The project seems to have no end. Cutting the day into 30-minute segments seems to solve lots of these problems.
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Bryce Sanders
Bryce Sanders, president of Perceptive Business Solutions Inc., has provided training for the financial services industry on high-net-worth client acquisition since 2001. He trains financial professionals on how to identify prospects within the wealthiest 2%-5% of their market, where to meet and socialize with them, how to talk with wealthy people and develop personal relationships, and how to transform wealthy friends into clients. Bryce spent 14 years with a major financial services firm as a successful financial advisor, two years as a district sales manager and four years as a home office manager. He developed personal relationships within the HNW community through his past involvement as a Trustee of the James A. Michener Art Museum, Board of Associates for the Bucks County Chapter of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Board of Trustees for Stevens Institute of Technology and as a church lector. Bryce has been published in American City Business Journals, Barrons, InsuranceNewsNet, BenefitsPro, The Register, MDRT Round the Table, MDRT Blog, accountingweb.com, Advisorpedia and Horsesmouth.com. In Canada, his articles have appeared in Wealth Professional. He is the author of the book “Captivating the Wealthy Investor.”
