One tip to protect against time-usurpers

If you are selling your time, you have to guard it carefully. I teach people how to charge appropriately for their time. And I teach them how to really charge for “value” as opposed to just time. (Remember, the real question is, “what value are they receiving as a result of my work? That is what you charge them for. And if it is easy for you, than great! Charge for the value they receive, not how hard you work. But I digress.)

Many of us service-providers are “good girls” who always want to be nice. Colleagues and clients call with a “quick question” and thirty un-billed for minutes go by in the blink of an eye. Resentment sets in. We try to read our e-mail while half listening to the caller. (Anyone not guilty of that?) So here is a tip: after they identify themselves, instead of saying out of habit: “Hi Suzy, how are you?” say instead, “Oh hi Suzy, what can I do for you?” This immediately focuses the conversation on the task at hand and eliminates a lot of chit-chat. Said in a friendly tone, this simple trick works beautifully. So tape a note to your phone that says, “Hi… what can I do for you?” You will be amazed how much this helps. (Timothy Ferriss has a fabulous chapter called Interrupting Interruption and the Art of Refusal in his book, the Four Hour Work Week.)

Protect your time and start earning what you really worth!

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