default diary

If you’re a trade business owner, there’s a good chance your week is being dictated by whatever comes up next.

A customer wants a quote, someone from the team needs you, the phone rings, there’s an issue on site, and suddenly the things you actually wanted to get done have been pushed to another day.

One of the tools I use with business owners to help bring some structure to this is a Default Diary.

The idea is pretty simple. Instead of scattering the same types of tasks throughout your week, you set aside regular blocks of time for them. Quoting might happen on certain mornings. Team meetings have their regular spot. You might block out a few hours every week specifically for working ON the business rather than being caught up in the day to day.

It doesn’t mean your week can never change. Of course things come up. But instead of starting every week with a blank calendar and reacting to everything around you, you have a default structure to work from.

In the video below, I’ll show you how I recommend setting up a Default Diary for a trade business, including where quoting, team meetings, time on the tools and working on the business might fit.

If you constantly get to Friday wondering where the week went, have a watch. This is a simple tool, but it can make a big difference to how you use your time.

Hugh Bowman
ActionCOACH Geelong