Running a farm business or any small business means there will always be something that needs doing.
The problem isn’t always that we don’t have enough time.
Sometimes, we simply haven’t decided what deserves our time.
Every time you say yes to something, you’re potentially saying no to something else that matters.
That might be working on your business plan, reviewing your finances, having a succession conversation, spending time with family or simply getting the important job finished without interruption.
The real questions is, is this important enough to take me away from one of my key goals?
- Start with the Big Rocks
I like to think about priorities as Big Rocks, Pebbles and Sand.
The Big Rocks are your major goals and projects. They need to go into the calendar first.
The Pebbles are the smaller projects and commitments that fit around them.
The Sand is everything else, the emails, calls, administration and little jobs that can easily consume an entire day if you let them.
Plan your Big Rocks quarterly, become more specific each month and then use weekly planning to determine what can realistically be achieved.
- Urgent doesn’t always mean important
The Eisenhower Matrix provides another useful way of looking at priorities:
Urgent and important: Do it.
Important but not urgent: Schedule it.
Urgent but not important: Delegate or minimise it.
Neither: Question why you’re doing it at all.
For business owners, the second category is particularly important.
Succession planning is rarely urgent, until suddenly it is. Business planning isn’t urgent, until cash flow becomes tight.
Contingency planning isn’t urgent, until something goes wrong. Some of the most valuable work we do is important long before it becomes urgent.
- Where is your time actually going?
If you’re constantly busy but don’t feel like you’re moving forward, try conducting a time audit.
For one week, record where your time goes, including the interruptions.
Then consider the 80/20 rule: approximately 80% of our results can often come from 20% of our efforts.
What’s your 20%?
What activities genuinely move your business forward?
And what could you stop doing?
Being busy and being productive aren’t the same thing.
Good business planning is ultimately about priorities. It’s deciding where you want to go, identifying what matters most and directing your time, energy and resources accordingly.
So before adding another job to the list, ask yourself:
Is this really a priority, or is it simply demanding my attention?
If it’s time to step away from the day-to-day and review the priorities, goals and future direction of your business, contact me on 08 8253 2906 or info@financialservicessa.com.au.
