Say what?! It sounds counterintuitive doesn’t it? The entrepreneurs I know, myself included, are typically trying to figure out how to cram more work hours into the day, not less, so when I first read Sharon Sarmiento’s post, “How To Get More Work Done in Less Time” on her fabulous e-Soup blog I was intrigued to say the least. Like Sharon I’m always interested in experimenting with new ideas for increasing productivity and the possibility that I can do so while working fewer hours is very appealing. One of the struggles that anyone running a business from home usually faces is the blurring of boundaries between work and home, business and leisure, and as a result many of us have a tendency to spend 8, 10, 12 hours or more at our desks. At the same time, without the pressure of deadlines imposed by a boss or the structure of a corporate environment it can be very easy to get side-tracked and to lose focus. Figuring out how to create boundaries and a sense of structure for ourselves that helps to keep us on track and making forward progress can be challenging.
Sharon is tracking and reporting what she’s calling “The 4-hour Workday Experiment” and she’s laid out a 9-step plan for implementing it. I’m going to give it a try, and so are a few others I know. Sharon may have inadvertently started a new revolution. Care to join us? I’m really enjoying hearing how it’s going for Sharon and I think it would be fascinating to hear from a variety of people how it’s working for them. If you try it I hope you’ll take a moment to share your experience by commenting here or on e-Soup. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes for me.
Hmmm……I’m already anticipating how much I’ll accomplish and what I’ll do with the found hours.
Posted on Sep 21st 06 by Lisa Wilder.
Lisa is passionate about helping others to create lives and businesses they're passionate about and which bring them joy. Through her small business coaching and consulting she helps service professionals boldly step out of their comfort zone into The Wilder Zone to build successful businesses doing what they love. http://www.thewilderzone.com http://www.thewilderzone.com
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I’ll take up that challenge, Lisa. I’ll start on Monday. I didn’t quit a corporate job to work harder and longer, that’s for sure. And I’m grateful to Sharon for figuring out some steps for doing it, and I’m grateful to you for talking about it here. We’re the perfect test group, don’t you think? So who else wants to join us in this effort - or lack of!
I’m going to try this today. I think I’ll incorporate this technique at least one day per week for now. Unfortunately, with client site work and teaching seminars in evenings, those days can easily be 12-14 hours without blinking an eye and not something I can control because of the commitments I must fulfill. But, in the meantime, I’m in. BTW, I did tell Lisa yesterday (even before this posting) how many hours I would work today (it will be like being on vacation in the Bahamas!). Unfortunately, I’ve worked a while this morning … and, sorry, still haven’t officially clocked in. But, I will!
It’s so much more fun to take on challenges and make lifestyle changes when you’re not doing it alone. Let’s all do it! (And thanks, Lisa, for the wonderful compliments:-))