I had the opportunity to consult with a young entrepreneur earlier this week: similar to so many others in his situation, he had more things to do than hours in the day. The conversation started a little slowly, but as we started pulling at threads, months worth of angst, ideas, and questions came pouring out.
In reflecting on our conversation, I realized that my client had fallen into a similar pattern to many business owners (myself included). It is easy (and more fun) to focus on the tasks that are in our "wheelhouse." For me, it is easy to focus on the legal filings, client interviews, and research on my desk: these tasks are familiar to me. It is infinitely more difficult for me to focus on things like website development and marketing.
As business owners, we don't have the luxury of avoiding the tasks we don't like, and yet, we all do it. Personally, I have been forcing myself to calendar time to perform the tasks I historically avoid. So far, the calendaring is easy: I've had mixed results with following through. I am also working on identify tasks that are best to delegate or seek outside professional help.
What are some of the skills and techniques you use in your life or business to perform the tasks you'd rather not?