The Power of Time Investments: How Small Actions Today Can Manufacture Time Tomorrow

There’s a famous quote by Bill Gates that I absolutely love:  

“I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.’”  

Now, I’ve never heard anybody ever call a college coach lazy.    

In fact, I’d say (and why I write this newsletter every week) college coaches tend to work long and hard hours, because if they aren’t, they might feel lazy or that they’re falling behind.    

Here’s the reality, I don’t want you to be lazy. I want you to be effective by investing a small amount of time in something that will pay you back in more time freedom later on.  

Once I realized the power in doing this, I made strategic time investments to set up certain systems that unlocked the magic of compounding manufacturing time that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.  

Today, I want to point out some of these simple systems to you.   

For example, here are 4 things that you are probably already doing (or should be doing if you aren’t).   

• Finally doing the paperwork to set up auto deposit with your bank and or installing and learning the mobile app so that you can deposit checks electronically saving you dozens of trips to the bank.   
• Setting up a travel system of dedicated toiletries, clothing, bags, etc. so that the prep impact time for every trip is cut in half.   
• Creating an orientation manual or training video so the time spent hiring an onboarding new employees is cut in half and their effectiveness is increased significantly.   
• Instead of cooking individual meals each day dedicate a few hours on the weekend to meal prep for the week. This investment will save you lots of time during the week.   

The initial time spent learning will quickly pay off as that task used to take you hours will now take minutes.   

These saved hours can now be reinvested in more meaningful and productive tasks, compounding your manufacturing time.  

If you have ever worked with me, you know that one of my favorite sayings is “yes, it is upfront work to set these things up, but it will save you SO much time on the backend.”   

Not enough coaches take that saying to heart.    

Let me ask you a question, do you feel like you have enough time to actually coach and build your team?  Or, are you spending 80%+ of your day on operational or recruiting tasks?   

I know that the fall is busy and taking time out of your day from the million things you are trying to accomplish to write out a procedure, checklist, to learn a software tool, or upgrade a new habit is not a priority right now.    

In the moment, it might not seem like a priority, but I’m telling you, once done, the compound effect will be ignited and it will start manufacturing time and improving your effectiveness.    

Even better, now this extra time you have, you can use it to spend more time on the X’s and O’s, or on whatever you choose.   

So let me ask, what investments of time can you make this week that will compound time in the future for what you are trying to accomplish as a coach? Here are a few ideas: 

1. Skill Development: Dedicate a few hours each week to learning a new skill or improving an existing one. Over time, your expertise will grow, making you more efficient in your work. 
2. Networking: Spend time networking with colleagues, industry peers, or mentors. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities you might not have had otherwise. 
3. Prioritization: Invest time at the beginning of the week to plan and prioritize your tasks. This will help you focus on what truly matters and prevent time wasted on less important activities. 
4. Automation: Identify repetitive tasks in your workflow and invest time in setting up automation tools. This will save you countless hours in the long run.  
5.  Health and Well-being: Don’t forget to invest time in self-care and health. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can boost your energy levels, making you more productive in the long term.  

In a profession where time is often in short supply with so many things to do, it’s essential to recognize that every moment counts.   

Time is the great equalizer for all of us.   

Those million little places where you can invest your time today can lead to a substantial return on your time investment in the future.   

So, seize those small opportunities, plan your week wisely, and watch your time become a valuable asset that keeps growing.  

To your success,  

Mandy Green 

P.S. I am putting the finishing touches on a revamped High Performance Coach and Recruiter program where I plan on helping you establish more things like this all throughout the year to keep you sane, on track to reaching your goals, and building the program and life that you love.  Coming soon!