EP269: Unlocking Your Value: Time Tips to Boost Contractor Productivity

Calculate your 'Value Per Hour' (VPH) by dividing your business's annual revenue by your annual working hours; use this number to evaluate the true cost of your time for any task.

Delegate low-value tasks like material pickups or administrative duties to team members or services (e.g., delivery) even if it costs money, as your time is more valuable.

Implement 'time blocking' by grouping similar tasks (e.g., all estimates, all sales calls) into specific blocks in your calendar to improve focus and efficiency, reducing task-switching costs.

Establish non-negotiable schedules for high-value activities like estimates and sales; communicate these to clients and stick to them to respect your own time and professionalism.

Use the 'FLOW' acronym (Focus, Leverage, Output, Win) to evaluate every task before you start it: Does it move the business forward? Can it be leveraged? What's the desired output? Will it lead to a win for the business or you?

Avoid doing tasks solely because you enjoy them or to save a small amount of money (e.g., learning complex design software); focus your energy on strategic tasks that significantly increase business value.

Eliminate wasted time by minimizing gaps in your schedule through effective time blocking; unstructured time often leads to distractions and unproductive activities.