Time Management for Consultants

My life as a Salesforce consultant. 7 daily habits I follow to be super productive (while NOT burning out): 1) Wake up at 7:30 AM I have clients on the East and West Coast. I get up early-ish to play catch up for my east coast clients. And stay ahead of the game for my West coast clients. To get 7 Hrs of sleep, I avoid blue light 1-2 Hrs before bed and start winding down at 10 PM. 2) Client work until noon I like to get the bulk of my work and communication with clients done in the morning. Client facing "hack": Contact your clients in the AM. It shows them you're on top of things. Getting your work done early also means you'll have more time in the evening to relax. 3) Run with my dog midday Nobody can work for 8 hours straight without a break. Running, walking or any form of exercise is a great way to break up your day. You'll come back recharged and ready to operate. Pro Tip: Schedule your breaks into Google Calendar. 4) Answer messages on Slack/adhoc I arrive home from my run at 1 PM. I answer any simple questions from my clients... Or give them updates if I don't have immediate answers. I do this until about 2:30 PM. It's a good way to ease back into work after my break. 5) 2:30 - 5:30 I work on my business I usually have a dip in energy at this point of the day. So I use it to work on tasks that fall outside of client fulfillment. I work on things that don't take as much mental bandwidth — like lead gen. It's important work, but far less technical. 6) Eat dinner I end my work day at 5:30 PM. This is usually when my wife and I have dinner. We stick to a diet that includes: • Mostly organic foods • Minimal refined sugar Since getting on this diet I've noticed a massive boost in my productivity throughout the day. I use an app called 'Lose It' to understand what's in my food and how many calories I consume per day. 7) Relaxation time This part of the day is so important. I use it to unwind and decompress after the busy work day. This also sets me up for a great night's sleep... So I'm ready to hit the ground running the next day. P.s. - How do you unwind after a long work day? 7 daily habits I follow to be super productive (while NOT burning out): 1) Wake up at 7:30 AM 2) Client work until noon 3) Run with my dog midday 4) Answer messages on Slack/adhoc 5) 2:30 - 5:30 I work on my business 6) Eat dinner 7) Relaxation time Thanks for reading. Follow me Jordan Nelson And share it with your network.

"I'll delegate when I find good people." Translation: "I'll trust them after they prove themselves." Plot twist: They can't prove themselves until you trust them. Break the loop. Delegate to develop. Here's how: 1️⃣ What should you delegate? Everything. Not a joke. You need to design yourself completely out of your old job. Set your sights lower and you'll delegate WAY less than you should. But don't freak out: Responsibly delegating this way will take months. 2️⃣ Set Expectations w/ Your Boss The biggest wild card when delegating: Your boss.  Perfection isn't the target. Command is.  - Must-dos: handled  - Who you're stretching   - Mistakes you anticipate   - How you'll address Remember: You're actually managing your boss. 3️⃣ Set Expectations w/ Yourself  Your team will not do it your way.  So you have a choice: - Waste a ton of time trying to make them you?   - Empower them to creatively do it better?  Remember: 5 people at 80% = 400%. 4️⃣ Triage Your Reality - If you have to hang onto something -> do it.  - If you feel guilty delegating a miserable task -> delete it.  - If you can't delegate them anything -> you have a bigger problem. 5️⃣ Delegate for Your Development  You must create space to grow. Start here:   1) Anything partially delegated -> Completion achieves clarity.  2) Where you add the least value -> Your grind is their growth.  3) The routine -> Ripe for a runbook or automation. 6️⃣ Delegate for Their Development Start with the stretch each employee needs to excel. Easiest place to start: ask them how they want to grow. People usually know. And they'll feel agency over their own mastery. Bonus: Challenge them to find & take that work. Virtuous cycle. 7️⃣ Set Expectations w/ Your Team  Good delegation is more than assigning tasks:  - It's goal-oriented  - It's written down  - It's intentional When you assign "Whys" instead of "Whats", You get Results instead of "Buts". 8️⃣ Climb The Ladder Aim for the step that makes you uncomfortable:     - Steps over Tasks  - Processes over Steps  - Responsibilities over Processes  - Goals over Responsibilities   - Jobs over Goals  Each rung is higher leverage. 9️⃣ Don't Undo Good Work Delegating & walking away - You need to trust. But you also need to verify. - Metrics & surveys are a good starting point. Micromanaging - That's your insecurity, not their effort. - Your new job is to enable, motivate & assess, not step in. ✅ Remember: You're not just delegating tasks. - You're delegating goals. - You're delegating growth. - You're delegating greatness. The best time to start was months ago.  The next best time is today. 🔔 Follow Dave Kline for more posts like this. ♻️ And repost to help those leaders who need to delegate more.

Think overdelivering will keep your clients happy? Think again. Here’s how to avoid burnout as a consultant. When you shift from a full-time role to consulting, it’s easy to fall into an old trap: treating every opportunity like a full-time job. Overdelivering. Overextending. And ultimately, burning out. On a recent Business Building call with clients, I shared with them... "The most nefarious thing is the story we tell ourselves, but we’re also setting expectations by overextending." The story? That if we don’t give everything, we won’t land (or keep) the client. But here’s the reality: Overextending doesn’t just exhaust you, it sets the wrong expectations. Clients come to rely on extra hours, unlimited availability, or added scope... without understanding the real value of your work. The result? You undervalue yourself, misalign expectations, and risk sacrificing long-term success. Failing to set boundaries as a consultant creates: • Burnout: You feel drained, losing the passion that made you start consulting in the first place.    • Scope Creep: Projects spiral beyond the original agreement without compensation.    • Misaligned Value: Clients undervalue your expertise because they see your time as endless.    The Fix: Set Clear Boundaries To protect your time and deliver impact without overextending, implement these strategies: 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 Clearly outline deliverables, timelines, and expectations in every proposal. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 Set working hours and response times upfront. Example: “I’m available for calls between 9 AM and 2 PM on weekdays.” 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 If additional work arises, renegotiate the contract. Example: “That’s outside the scope of our initial agreement—let’s discuss an add-on package.” 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 Focus on delivering outcomes, not overcommitting your time. Your impact comes from results, not the number of hours you spend. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 Ask yourself: “Am I overextending because I’m afraid of losing the client? What evidence supports that fear?” Boundaries don’t just protect you, they elevate your client relationships by reinforcing your value and professionalism.

A team member came to me looking stressed out. “A client wants 20 hours of extra work by tomorrow. I don’t want to say ‘no,’ but I can’t do it.” The client had asked for: → 5 slides on competitive analysis keyword research and acquisition strategy → In time for their board presentation the next day → Which was out of scope for our work together Yeah, no. We can’t do that. So I told my team member I’d step in and set a boundary. I’ll be honest — I hate saying “no” to clients. It’s awkward. I feel like I’m letting them down. I even worry they’ll cancel our contract. But I have a responsibility to protect my team members. So I wrote to the client and said: “We can’t do this because it’s out of scope.” Then followed up with a list of 3 options they could choose from for next steps. They were happy to pick something else and we were able to help – Without making that team member sacrifice a night’s sleep. But it got me worried: How often is my team fielding these anxieties without my help? So we took 20 minutes to talk about it during our next company meeting: “If a client asks you to do something and you’re uncomfortable — come to us.” Here’s the thing: I want my team members to feel empowered to make decisions. But I also want them to know that we’ve *always* got their backs if they’re stuck. Team members have come to me with client requests more often since then. And yes – I’m having more potentially awkward conversations. But overall it’s been a win-win-win: → My team feels more supported → I have better visibility on additional services clients want → I can pitch them on stuff they didn’t even know they needed Happier team members. Better client-agency alignment. And more money coming in. If I have to feel a little uncomfortable from time to time… It’s worth it for what everybody else gains.

Most people believe Work-life Balance is a Myth. And I disagree with all of them; here's why: Because I believe it is really possible! After years of late nights and missed weekends, I've cracked the code of maintaining balance. Here's my secret: it's all about boundaries. Sounds simple, right? But it's not easy to follow this. Here's how I make it work: -> Make a to-do list When work hours end, the laptop closes. Period. No sneaky email checks! -> Calendar blocking I schedule everything - work, gym, family time. And I mean everything. Pro tip: Let your assistant know these blocks are sacred. Trust me, no one's going to die if that meeting waits till Monday. -> Do physical work-out regularly 3-4 gym sessions a week keep me sane. It's non-negotiable "me time." -> Friends & family first I carve out dedicated time for loved ones. No phones, no distractions when I am with them. -> Ruthless prioritization I review my calendar weekly. Is anything not aligned with my goals? Gone. Remember: in headhunting (and most jobs), few things are truly urgent. That "emergency" can probably wait. It feels weird at first, but it gets easier. Now, I'm not saying I've achieved perfect balance. Some weeks are crazier than others. But overall? I'm happier, more productive, and actually present in my personal life. So yes, I believe work-life balance is possible. It just takes practice, discipline, and the courage to say "no" sometimes. Have you found your balance? Or are you still struggling? #WorkLifeBalance #Corporate #Career #Life

The million-dollar question: what to do when we're procrastinating and know we can't keep doing it? We've all been there. 🙃 A while ago, I started using a Productivity Planner, and it has helped me a lot. I prioritize the tasks I want to avoid first, so I can get the hardest things out of the way and focus on what truly matters. Another technique that works for me is breaking down what I'm procrastinating on into smaller tasks. Believe it or not, when something feels overwhelming, doing it in parts makes it much more manageable. Now, if you're still procrastinating even after using tools and methods to break the cycle, it's important to ask yourself why. Sometimes, a little reflection on the reasons behind your procrastination can make those intimidating tasks feel less heavy. And here’s a key point: delegation. If it's something someone else can handle and it lightens your load, why not trust your team? For example, I hate managing my email inbox—no shame in admitting that— and without Karen’s help, it would be a mess. Plus, I love having an empty inbox. 😅 So, if you're part of the procrastination team—welcome!—let’s recap: 1. Tackle the hardest task first. 2. Break it down into smaller steps. 3. Reflect on why you’re avoiding it. 4. And, if possible, delegate. 🤔 What do you do to stop procrastinating? Let me know!

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. Years ago, I thought time management was: ↳ Making to-do lists, ↳ Planning everything on a schedule, ↳ And still not getting everything done. But I learned the hard way: It’s not about doing more, it’s about doing it right. Here are 12 game-changing strategies: (that truly transformed my productivity) 1/ Anti-To-Do List: Track what not to do (low-value tasks or habits that waste time). 2/ The Rule of Three: Instead of endless task lists, set just 3 key priorities per day. 3/ Time-Stamped Planning: Estimate time for each task, so your schedule isn’t just a wish list. 4/ Switching Tax Awareness: Switching between tasks can cost up to 40% of your productivity—minimize it. 5/ Waiting Time Hack: Use waiting in line or commuting for micro-tasks (replying to emails or listening to audiobooks). 6/ 90-Min Deep Work Cycle: Your brain works best in 90-minute focus sprints followed by breaks. 7/ Day Theming: Assign specific tasks to certain days (e.g., Mondays for planning, Fridays for networking). 8/ Set Hard Stops: Decide when work must end to prevent overworking and force efficiency. 9/ Productive Boredom: Allow quiet time for creative thinking (no phone, no music). 10/ Just Start Rule: When procrastinating, commit to just 2 minutes of a task—momentum usually follows. 11/ Multiplier Tasks: Some tasks (automating a workflow or hiring the right person) save you time forever. 12/ Manage Energy, Not Just Time: Track when you’re naturally most focused and schedule deep work. Time is the only resource you can’t get back. Manage it wisely. ♻️ Share this with your network. ☝️ For more valuable insights, follow me, Victoria Repa.

“Focus on yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup” Many of us equate long hours and hard work with success. However, neglecting self-care can lead to burnout, reducing both the quality and quantity of our output. It also impacts how much we can support others, like our teams. Neuroscience shows that rest isn’t just about physical recovery. It’s crucial for mental processes like memory consolidation and creativity. By prioritizing self-care, we enable our brains to function at their best. Practical tips for focusing on yourself Quality rest: Ensure you’re getting enough sleep. Quality rest is as important as the work itself. This made a huge difference in my case. Setting boundaries: Learn to constructively say no. It’s vital to set boundaries to protect your time and energy. Mindfulness practices: Engage in mindfulness practices like meditation or yoga. These help in reducing stress and enhancing focus. Hobbies and interests: Invest time in hobbies or interests outside of work. This diversifies your sources of fulfillment and reduces the risk of burnout. Balancing work and self-care: Finding your rhythm: Everyone’s balance looks different. It’s about finding what works for you and being flexible to adjust as your life changes. Integrating self-care into your routine: Make self-care a non-negotiable part of your daily routine, not something you do only when you find the time. Conclusion Investing in yourself isn’t just about feeling better. It has a compounding effect on your productivity, relationships, and quality of life. By taking care of yourself, you ensure that you have more to give to your work and to those around you. Remember, focusing on yourself isn’t selfish. It’s essential. Illustration by Jade Bern Final thoughts If you enjoyed this post, consider a like or repost ♻️? :) I also have a newsletter where I share my best tips on similar topics: https://addy.ie #motivation #productivity #wellbeing

I always hear professionals say things like, "My family is most important. If my wife calls, I'll step out of any meeting to take that call." This is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard... Here's why: For years, I struggled with the traditional concept of work-life balance. I thought I was failing because I couldn't neatly separate my day into "work time" (8-5) and "family time" (evenings and weekends). The reality? Legal careers don't work that way. Unlike other jobs where the employee can clock out after a shift, attorneys are mentally "on call" almost constantly. I'd feel guilty answering emails at night, then guilty again for missing family moments during the day. It was lose-lose until I finally realized something important: Work-life balance in law isn't about equal BLOCKS of time - it's about being fully PRESENT in smaller CHUNKS of time throughout your day. Here's what I mean: When I drop my kids at school in the morning, that's family time. I'm present, not checking emails. When I'm in client meetings, that's work time. I'm focused there. If my daughter has a tennis tournament at 3pm, I leave work early. That's family time. After dinner, I might work for a few hours. That's work time again. For this to work, you need two things: 1) A family that understands your career involves trade-offs (sometimes working nights, but also flexibility during traditional work hours) 2) A workplace that trusts you to manage your time (not measuring value by hours in a seat) And here's where many attorneys get it wrong: My wife knows she can call anytime, but I won't always answer. If it's truly urgent, she'll call twice, and I'll step out. But we both understand that an important client meeting shouldn't be interrupted to talk about what we're having for dinner. This isn't about prioritizing work over family. It's about respecting both by giving each your full attention when appropriate. Old-school law firms struggle with this. If a partner walks by and you're not in your seat, they assume you're slacking—never mind the four hours you put in after your kids went to bed. Legal careers demand flexibility. Sometimes emergencies happen during vacations. Sometimes you miss work for family events. Neither means you're failing at balance. Balance isn't about perfectly equal time. It's about being intentional with the time you have, wherever you are.

I used to be a "yes" person with my clients, and this was making me hate my job. 🟢 Everything the client told me, I said yes to. 🟢I welcomed every detour during my check-ins with them. 🟢For every request they made, I quickly actioned (without considering the ask). And I did it because I thought that's what I needed to do to make them... happy. But then it got too much. I started losing control of my accounts and stakeholders; I couldn't keep up with the constant checking in on features, support tickets, and odd requests. My clients viewed me as their server, taking orders to run back to the kitchen. If you find yourself in this situation, it's time to reset. Here's how 👇 #1 You acknowledge what is happening "Hey, thank you so much for sharing so many insights with me on ways we can make the product more valuable for you. I've noted all of your requests, and I'll keep you posted if there are any changes..." #2 You remind them of their goals "...Today, I'd like for us to focus on our plan to get you back on track with your conversion rate. I know your goal is to increase it by 5% by the end of the quarter, correct?" #3 You lay out the plan and your role in it "Got it! To get you there, we'll need to align on our game plan. I've gotten the ball rolling by outlining some low-hanging fruit. These activities have worked well for another client very similar to you, and I believe we can get it done within 3 months..." #4 You get clear on what you need from them "If we put our heads down and focus on delivering this, here's what I'll need from you [outline needs]. Are we on the same page?" ---- That's how you can shift the conversation, but remember that you'll still need to keep it on track. To do that, don't be afraid to bring the plan up whenever things start going sideways again. --- Have you ever felt like a 'yes' person to your clients? #clientmanagement #worklifebalance #customerrelationships