Today’s guest in the Mads Singers Management Podcast is none other than the sales evangelist, Donald C. Kelly! Donald runs an organization called The Sales Evangelist, where he and his team create a podcast and other business resources. He used to be a software sales rep who was very successful in his career. Donald shared what was working for him and enabled him to get coaching opportunities, speaking opportunities, and even consulting to companies where it grew. Now Donald has 14 individual teams where they do consult and sales training with their clients. He is also the host of The Sales Evangelist Podcast, where he and his team product podcasts for their clients.
Although it’s common for business owners to pass the torch to the next generation to focus on more critical business tasks, it cannot be successful if one does not delegate duties and responsibilities effectively. Effective delegation enables business owners, and managers must be able to plan efficiently.
While the pandemic has allowed more people and businesses to be flexible, it has also made more people become easily distracted because many people are working from their homes and can easily be pulled into rabbit holes. Donald shares his top 3 things on how people can manage their time better: (1.) Focus on the essential things on your list first (2.) Breaking down your time to 15 to 30 minutes to get things done, allowing room for error, and lastly (3.) Allowing yourself to have time for fun.
While the new normal may seem scary for most people, we can take small steps to improve our quality of life, whether at work or at home. While a schedule can help fast track a project or close a business deal, entrepreneurs shouldn’t focus on how much time is being spent on a particular task or project but rather on the output instead. Of course, you’ll need to communicate this clearly with your staff or team members.
Key Learning:
- Donald shares his top 3 tips on how business owners can manage their time efficiently:
- 1. Planning and categorizing your days,
- 2. Give yourself 15-30 minutes chunks of time and giving yourself room for error, and
- 3. Have time for yourself to have fun and plan your day before. – 06:31
- Mads agrees that many business owners and entrepreneurs tend to do too many things for their business, but it doesn’t help their business move or grow at all – 11:26
- Mads adds that people should know and focus on their core priorities and make sure that they work on things or tasks that help move them closer to their goals. – 12:06
- Donald says that business owners shouldn’t push something off to a person if they don’t know what’s supposed to be done. – 12:38
- Mads says that it’s better to delegate the things you don’t know to other people when growing a big business instead of figuring it out by yourself. – 13:59
- Mads says that too many people focus on the process instead of the outcome – 19:30
- Donald says that while we can fill up our calendars, it’s essential to use your time effectively and allow some room for error. – 24:12
- Donald adds that people should do a daily recap when their work ends to be ready for the next day. – 24:24
- Donald shares that it’s essential for business owners and managers to plan a fun time for themselves and their team, especially with the world dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and adjusting to a new normal in life. – 25:06
- Donald says that it’s essential for you to nurture this culture to your team or staff, especially with many working remotely, so that things will flow more smoothly. – 26:53
Resources Mentioned:
- 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management: The Productivity Habits of 7 Billionaires, 13 Olympic Athletes,
- 29 Straight-A Students, and 239 Entrepreneurs by Kevin Kruse
- The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran
- Donald’s planner template