Episode 13

Episode #13 The Secret to Finding 20 Extra Hours a Week. (It’s not what you think.)

Unlock the secrets to reclaiming 15-20 hours of your week by harnessing the power of automation and smart systems!

Join me, as I guide you through identifying and automating those tedious, repetitive administrative tasks that are eating away at your precious time.

With practical insights and personal experiences, along with tools like RescueTime to track and analyze your time usage, you'll be able to pinpoint inefficiencies and retrain habits for a more productive day.

Say goodbye to burnout and hello to regained freedom, allowing you to focus on the aspects of your business that truly matter.

Discover time management strategies tailored for small business owners and learn how to prioritize effectively to maximize your productivity.

I'll share valuable tips on avoiding unproductive interactions and setting realistic expectations, ensuring that your client meetings take precedence and drive your business forward.

We'll also discuss the potential pitfalls of over-automation and how to strike the right balance to maintain meaningful personal engagement where it counts.

If you're overwhelmed by your business, this episode is your roadmap to taking back control and running your business more efficiently.

CHAPTERS WITH LONG SUMMARIES

(00:00) Streamlining Your Business With Automation

This chapter focuses on the crucial topic of time management and how automation and systems can give you back precious hours in your day. I share insights on identifying repetitive and low-level administrative tasks that are still being done manually, and how automating these can prevent burnout by reclaiming up to 15-20 hours each week.

For those who don't know where to start, I recommend using software like RescueTime to track and analyze how every minute is spent, which helps in pinpointing inefficiencies and retraining habits for better productivity.

Through my personal experience and practical advice, we explore ways to streamline your business processes and ultimately run your business more efficiently.

(14:07) Productive Business Time Management Strategies

This chapter explores the significance of managing time effectively as a small business owner, particularly focusing on the potential pitfalls of engaging in unproductive coffee chats.

I discuss the importance of prioritizing meetings with clients, who are crucial for generating referrals and sustaining the business. Emphasizing that while some interactions, like those with vendors, can be managed via emails or videos, partnerships and client interactions should be given priority.

Additionally, I highlight the importance of setting realistic expectations with others to avoid wasting time, both for yourself and for them. Finally, we touch on the potential hazards of over-automation in business operations, stressing the need for balance to ensure efficiency without compromising personal engagement where it truly matters.

About the Podcast

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The Queen of Automation
Technology is only good when it works.

About your hosts

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Meghan Donnelly

She’s the owner and founder of The Digital Unicorns, a small digital operations agency that helps multi-6-figure businesses streamline and optimize their digital experience with automated systems and tools. She’s also the brains and the chaos behind The Queen of Automation. Meghan has over 15 years in the digital operations industry, with a ton of experience and geeky expertise to share. As a business owner with ADHD, automation changed her life, and she loves sharing techy tips and tricks with other entrepreneurs.
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Kristen Strickler

Kristen is the head of storytelling and a copy ninja who works behind the scenes at The Digital Unicorns and The Queen of Automation. She helps tame the chaos and bring Meghan’s story to life. She loves learning new tech tips and tricks from Meghan and then writing about them so others can learn, too. When she’s not writing, she’s chasing her two toddlers around.
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Andrea Salazar

Meet Andrea, our Social & Customer Engagement Ninja. She handles all our social and community management, collaborating with other brands to help boost our brand’s online presence. Her goal is to make our customers happy through smart communication and engagement strategies. When not at work, you’ll find her enjoying life as a mom of two, juggling career wins with family fun.