Turning Lost Time into Profitable Time

Crossing that last item off your to-do list is one of the greatest feelings, but what happens after that?

I’m sure I’m not the only one guilty of this … but, after I complete my list I do often times walk away with pride knowing that I completed everything I was tasked with achieving.

But, is that really the case?

How many times, did you walk away when you still had more to give?

When working out this translates to there being 40% “left in the tank”. David Goggins, who happens to be the Keynote Speaker at this year’s Expo event was famously quoted in Jesse Itzler’s book, “Living with a SEAL” for this theory on the 40% Rule.

Itzler describes Goggins explanation of the 40% Rule as the following, “He would say that your mind is telling you you’re done, you’re really only 40 percent done. And he had a motto: if it doesn’t suck we don’t do it. And that was his way of forcing us to get uncomfortable to figure out what our baseline was and what our comfort level was and just turning it upside-down”.

The point is, we always have more to give. Just because we completed our to-do list for the day, the week or even the year - it doesn’t mean we’re done quite yet. I’ve noticed that after I complete my tasks ahead of schedule my time goes from “free time” to “lost time”. For me, it’s simple things like researching Fantasy Football trends or just checking in on my favorite sports teams in general. This is not profitable time, no … this free time has now turned into lost time.

Here are 3 easy ways you can turn this extra free time into Profitable Time.

1.  LinkedIn: SnapChat, IG, Facebook and Twitter all have their places for business as a social media platform. But, in my opinion, LinkedIn is the best-kept secret to growing your business using social media. There are a variety of ways you can turn your “lost time” into “profitable time” by using LinkedIn and here are just a few ideas: engaging with your prospects and clients through posts, using Sales Navigator for prospecting, creating posts of your own and sharing interesting content. Make sure your profile is prospect facing and not employer facing (unless you really are just using LinkedIn as an online resume). Here’s a podcast with more info on how to find “LinkedIn Riches”.

2.  Upcoming Projects: Whether you use commonsku’s Dashboard report that helps you see potential repeat projects with your clients, have a similar report in your CRM or if you’re just physically dropping in to see clients… start engaging with your clients MORE … and it has to be in person! I never feel that I have to officially ask my clients for the sale. You might be surprised by how much business you can close without ever “asking for it”. See your clients in person, get to know them, their upcoming projects and the floodgates will open. It really is just that simple.

3.  Creating Content: I’m getting close to publishing my second book, in addition to that I have a new video series we just launched called EatUp Silicon Valley. Sure, I have other content endeavors like podcasts and blogs but these are my main focuses at the moment. People ask me all the time how I’m able to create so much content while managing my business. The answer is simple. Besides working with VA’s (virtual assistants) the answer is that I batch and theme my time. I have focused work sessions in between the daily business time I allow for each day. So, to those of you that may think you don’t have time to create content, I challenge you to look in your day for those gaps of “lost time” and use that to start creating content which in turn will become profitable time because content creation is a direct correlation to sales growth.

So remember, when you think you’re done, think again. You still have 40% left in the tank.

SwagOn,
- SwagSam

Sam Kabert is the creative director of ValueBP Marketing Group and the creator and co-host of the podcast “WhatUp Silicon Valley!” A risk taker who embraces permanent beta, Sam is leading the transformation of his family-run office supplies business into a promotional products powerhouse. Sam can be reached at Sam@ValueBP.com.