Time Management in the Age of Leverage: Filters for Prioritization
This has been well stated many times, we all have 24 hours a day and nothing we can do can change that. Yet there are those around us who seemingly are able to get 10X the amount accomplished compared to us mere mortals. I’ve spent a lot of time reading, analyzing and asking around to figure out some tips and tricks to optimize my own schedule.
I use and recommend a very simple framework.
The first is Valuing your time per hour. So for example if you are a founder, each hour should be worth $10,000 usd or if you are Jeff Bezos it could be $1 Billion dollars per hour.
This can be helpful to judge how you spend your time. If the expected outcome or ROI (Return on Investment) is less than the valued amount, then say NO, give it to someone else, or outsource it for less than that amount. This also works well for startup founders in prioritizing how they use their precious engineers or designers.
2. But I would add one overlay on this: Do you enjoy the activity you are spending time on or not?
I think this is the most important piece that people miss. So for example, if you enjoy cooking or folding laundry, then keep doing it. ROI does not have to be purely financial. Hobbies are fun and are meant to bring color to their lives. We aren’t robots. Also what a sad & pathetic way to live if everything is done through the filter of ROI.
This is why it’s important to keep a “Mood Journal” and do a diary. I also do a weekly calendar review on the weekend to go through my previous week’s schedule. I review my calendar in the context of my mood journal. And modify my schedule accordingly by blocking out times for enjoyable work or activities. Also by cutting out some activities and conversations with people that bring me down, something I know worker bees at big companies don’t always have the luxury to do.
Our time on this planet is short and I truly believe you can have it all if you put enough effort into managing your day properly. YES, you can be insanely productive and get alot done and at the same time also squeezing great joy and pleasure out of your life. This is what freedom is: how you spend your hours.
As they say, “The Days are Long but the Years are Short.” It’s so easy to let time get away from you. This framework has helped me personally and I hope it can help you get the most out of your time and day too.
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