Pockets of Time
- September 5th, 2008
- View Comments (21)
Somewhere on another post I was asked by MKheart how I fit my business into my schedule around my full time job and my life. I didn’t get a chance to answer there so I have created a new post. It is rather postworthy, after all. I just made up a new word. 
My director often says to find the pockets of time during your day that you can fit your business in. The biggest problem I’ve always had was getting on the phone. I think the main contributing factor was that the time I had blocked out for my calls was in the evening after work. The problem with this was that I was tired from working all day — on the phone, mind you! I would get home and Hubby would be ready for dinner. By the time I cooked, we ate, and I cleaned up, it was after 8:00. I kind of think of that as “family time.” Also, since I deal with adversity 80% of the day at work, I was expecting rejection and rudeness. The other issue I had was that telemarketers typically call later in the day (at least that is when they would call me back when I had a landline). I did not want to be accused of or treated like a telemarketer. I had a husband do that to me once when I was calling a friend of a friend to confirm her attendance for a class. He was rude. And I’m sure he knew by the time he finally put his wife on. 
These things lead to procrastination.
In recent times I am very much in need of additional income and I need to stop playing these headgames with myself. I had to figure out when I would feel best about calling people. A very close friend of mine who used to be a consultant herself in Canada told me that she always liked to call people in the afternoon. She also offered to call people for me because she loves calling people (I want whatever she has!). She gave me this advice awhile ago, but being the cynic I am, I didn’t do that. I figured no one is home until later. Then I started thinking. I get a lot of no answers or machines after work. People are probably busy with dinner and all (as I’d originally figured); and possibly avoiding the phone in fear of telemarketers. Finally, I decided to take my friend’s very sage advice!
When I started calling all of my fair leads, I decided I would try calling during my lunch break at work. One reason I wasn’t doing this before was to socialize with my friends. There is nothing wrong with this, but I need to be productive. I decided to give it a shot. It’s been beautiful weather this summer, so I would go sit at a table outside in the plaza and make calls. The first day I was going to do it, I was sick with a migraine. I was stuck at home. Being home alone, I decided I should just make the freakin’ calls! Hubby was at work so he wasn’t making noise. I was home and feeling rather confident. So, I just went ahead and did it anyway! If I remember correctly, I made about 2 phone calls and booked 4 guests for my meeting the following night. Amazing. What was even more amazing to me was when they came! I know it was kind of fluky, but I was sold. I was making calls between 1:00 and 2:00 every day at lunch.
Well, that was the start. I also make calls on my way home from work, but not as much as during lunch. I do like to call my mother during my commute home. I don’t get much phone time (business or personal) at home. Hubby likes my undivided attention.
By making my phone calls during my lunch hour I have freed up my evenings; created more time for myself and my husband; and achieved my business tasks early in the day giving me a renewed sense of confidence for the day. Also, talking to my customers and prospects puts me in a really great mood! It’s shocking how much I enjoy getting on the phone now. It’s hard to describe.
Since I’ve been getting more confident on the phone, I now make time to also lunch with my friends on days I don’t do calls. It finesses itself as I perpetuate the habit so I make more calls during one day and then don’t have to make any for a day or two. I even look forward to when I can call people the next day. Call me crazy or silly or whatever; but it’s working for me and I am seeing results!
OK. That covers phone time. What about delivery times? I always hear people say to pick one day that is just for deliveries. I didn’t know how to do this for some reason. I just kind of do it whenever. If it’s someone at work, it’s a no-brainer. It doesn’t matter what day it is. I’ll deliver ASAP since I’ll see them anyway. For non-workplace deliveries I pick a day. Lately, it’s been Wednesdays. I don’t work late and it’s after meeting so I can deliver anything I didn’t have at the event. I do make exceptions for MK emergencies. 
That is OK to do. Just don’t be rules by your appointments and deliveries.
Now, for those of you working a full time job, think about your day. Think about your down time and what you are currently spending it on. For example, there were days I would sit at my desk and just read the blogs. How productive was that? Not very productive at all! (Sorry, fellow bloggers!) I redid my datebook. I outlined work time, call/MK/office time, Hubby time, and ME time. It is blocked out. Blog time now happens when I absolutely cannot be doing something business related. The end! If I could be reaching someone, I’m not on the blogs. Therefore, blogging time is early morning hours and/or evening hours. Hubby gets weekend nights and weeknights. My MK meeting is blocked out and my lunch hour is blocked out as MK time. I also have a few nights per week that I specify for blogging, but sometimes hubby goes to bed early and I can’t sleep and then here I am.
So, what is your day like? Where are your pockets of time? Here are some ideas:
- Lunch break
- 15 minute breaks at work
- Commute time
- Waiting for kids to get out of class, practice, lessons, etc.
Hope this helped to answer your questions, MKheart!
Tags: Personal Responsibility, Self-Discipline, Task Management, Time Management, Work At Home
Shades of Pink
Pink Biz
warzmondu
Vanessa
Stumble It!
Thanks for the advice! When I was working full time, I assumed that everyone else was working also. Since retiring from teaching I am amazed to see how many people are out and about during the day.
So a Mary Kay friend and I have decided recently that since we would like to work our business in the day time, we need to call our leads during the day. That will automatically connect us with women who might be available for facials or classes during the day.
I realize this is probably not possible for those working full time or moms of young children at home, but it may work for us “older stay at home moms.”
So, anyway, your experience gives me some encouragement!
Thanks, luv2tch! I also assumed everyone was working when I work. Not so! I’ve been able to reach many and leave messages and follow up later.
I know I often get better results as well during the day! I homeschool my youngest (10 yr old, 5th grader); so after I get him started on a subject, I take the phone and start making calls! He knows that if he has a question, he can go on to a different subject on his own OR take a break with his Legos (his favorite “recess” activity) and ask his questions when I am off the phone. I only make 1-2 calls at a time, so I can still be in close supervision of his work
If I don’t have calls during that time, it is my “business” reading time~~I always carry a business related book in the car 
I call unit members when I am in the car waiting for my high schoolers to get done with school (neither drives, and they are at a school too far to walk~and because it is private, there is no transportation other than mom!). I find with the 15-20 minute wait, I can call anywhere from 1-8 consultants and at least touch base with them
Great post Shades! I love your transformation from Yuck phone to GREAT phone
Shades…Thank you soooooooooooooo much!!! This helps more than you know. Thanks for linking to my blog. It makes me feel special. I get 30 minutes for lunch and 2 15 minute breaks during the day but rarely seem to use for some reason. I have to agree with you about feeling more confident after you get phone calls completed. It makes me feel like I actually got something accomplished that day.
Thank so much!!!
Shades…Thanks for the info., and MKHeart, thanks for asking the question to get this whole dialog started! I work a j.o.b. as well, and have a son in high school and a daughter who just started college, and I really need the xtra income from my MK. I could also use another vehicle…a Pontiac G6 perhaps…but seriously, I have struggled with this same thing my whole MK career. The phone totally creeps me out, but is vital in our business. When I get home, I really do not want or have the time to make calls. As you said, Shades, I have dinner, games, family time, and I am wore out mentally once I hit the door in the evening. I am off 1 day in the week (usually wednesdays), but that day has seemed to get filled up with all the stuff I don’t get done on the other evenings, and the weekends. I have been known to make a call or two here from the office on my lunch break, now I can see how it is working for you by scheduling it and doing it! I am going to go home tonight and get some names I need to call together and sit down and schedule the time starting tomorrow for calls. I am very fortunate to have a beautiful office and a boss who supports me in my busniness, and has offered me the use of the office after hours for classes, facials, meetings, whatever I need, and I want to hold some ’skin care clinics’ (I’m calling them) a couple of saturday mornings a month, beginning with this saturday, so I need to book right away! Thanks again for sharing what works for you. I’ll let you know how it goes. As always I love your blog, it rocks.
Donna WOW, having a boss that supports you and your business is HUGE!!!
Keep us posted and let us know how everything is going.
This has nothing to do with this post however for those of you that pray please do so. It looks like Ike is coming to see us. I don’t know if we are going to leave or just go to my dads however please pray that no one gets hurt and that there is not much destruction. Thanks in advance. Have a GREAT DAY Brenda
Bren, please stay safe. Thinking of you and praying for you! Hopefully, the storm weakens by the time it reaches you.
PinkBren - Stay safe and we will keep all of you in our thoughts and prayers!!!
Pink Bren, Many are praying for you. Be safe. Let us know how you are doing as you can.
Shades, I am so proud of your resolve to not only make a plan but to do it! Follow through is about 1/2 of it and you are making it happen! Go Shades!Great tips on this from everyone.
My consultant/Director life has certainly changed in the last 10 years or so due to uncertain relapses. I have found that while we cannot always do what we once did..we can do something.
Life is all about change and adaptation to ones circumstances. When I was a consultant..I did it much like you are doing.
As a Director, it is really like two jobs..you are still a consultant with clients and you are a director with a Unit of consultants.
The cell phone is a tool in that it is a huge time saver as we are out and about..blackberries are cool too! We are always stuck with wasted time or blocks of time that we cannot control so cell phone is a great way to get things done..even on the golf course! lol! (actually, I prefer driving the cart than swinging the club)
I have always hated schedules but I found I had to have one.We all have to be flexible..life happens and that is the beauty of having your own business, I don’t have to clock in..I just have to do it and not pray that the world comes to an end before I do it!
If I am in a relapse, I can still use the phone and email and mailing orders are great!
On Pink Biz blog I shared what we as a unit did Tuesday about calling our PCP or clients. So many are afraid of appearing pushy so they would rather their clients call them. Also I have found that as long as we don’t call them we fool ourselves into thinking we still may have a lead and this gives us mental angst! Recipe for disaster for losing many clients. So we needed something simple to say for those that perhaps had neglected calling or for new clients too. Get their permission up front.
I like taking the monthly calender and putting stars on the dates and blocks of time I am available to work..when in front of someone that is booking..I hand her the calender and let her write under the star her choice of dates..a little ownership there. For me, on the phone, I can glance at it and offer dates that I have already blocked out for working.
Sorry this is so wordy..
Love and hugs
Great ideas Angie! I love the thought about using cell phones in the “little” blocks of wasted time:) That is one thing I am really working to train my unit on and continue to work on myself:)
Would love to chat with you about your unit calling ideas~~my unit is so unresponsive to challenges and ideas
And Bren….definitely praying for you and all the others in the line of Ike!
Skin Care Mom & Angie:
I would love to hear the unit calling ideas as well. Can you share where I might view them? I have major trouble with the phone as well.
Thanks! P.S. Many prayers for your safety to all of you in Ike’s path.
shades I will post a comment later I wanted you to know I have been busy I have not dissapeared.
Thanks
Colleen
Donna, thank you so much! That’s awesome your boss is so accepting of your business. How cool for you! I have done appointments at work, but it feels weird. I don’t do them often. I typically just book appointments for evenings or weekends.
MKheart, don’t underestimate what can be accomplished 30 minutes or even 15! My lunch is an hour and I don’t usually fill the entire hour with calls. I still have time to eat, read, meet a friend, or just simply relax. You can do it. The key is really to schedule it and treat it as your MK work schedule!
Angie, great to see you! Thank you for sharing how you operate, too. I’ll be heading over to Pink Biz shortly to see what you posted.
Colleen, great to see you back, too! I was wondering where you went.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Well, Praise the Lord Ike didn’t get us. I was going to take the girls and go west Texas glad I didn’t because they got a ton of rain out there. The safest place to be in Texas was from Corpus Christi down south. Thank everyone for all the prayers they were answered. Have a GREAT WEEKEND.
Bren
Thank goodness, Bren! So relieved to hear from you! My husband and I were watching the footage. It looked awful. I’m so glad you were not affected. Great to have you back, sista!
Bren, I am so glad you all are safe. I too was watching the footage and praying for everyone in that dangerous path.
Angie…Phone/calling ideas…where do I sign up!!!I could use all the help in the world.
Shades..you blow my mind! I am starting a brand new week and am going to fill my breaks and lunches as MK Time. I will keep you all posted with results.
Check out my blog later today. We had a dream team meeting last night and I can’t wait to tell everyone about it.
Pink Bren, So glad you are safe, have been praying for you all.
We sure got some high winds here up to 60 miles an hour, nothing like a hurricane but enough to cause the power to go off and trees and debri flying. State of emergency here for awhile..many still without power.
Skincare Mom, would be glad to chat with you sometime..get my email through Shades.
MKHeart and Donna, I put a condensed version of the phone script on Pink Biz website..think it was under affirmations?
Shades… Can you send me Angie’s email??? Not sure how that works with a blog
Thanks bunches
Sure, no problem!
It has been sent! 
Thanks a million! You are awesome