Skip to content
Productivity

Time Assets and Debts

When thinking about productivity, sales professionals should think in terms of “time assets” and “time debts.”

Time Assets and Debts

When we talk about productivity strategies, we generally talk about actionable tips and tricks that allow us to complete tasks more quickly in the short-term. I read an article on the LifeHacker blog that shed light on a whole new way of thinking about productivity. The article proposed that we think about productivity in terms of “time debts” and “time assets.” In other words, is what I’m about to do going to require extra work down the line, or is it an investment that will actually save me time?

Time Assets and Debts

An example of a “time debt” would be sending an email that you know would require follow-up. Once you click “send,” you’re committed to reading a response, and, in many cases, responding to that response. If you don’t really need to send the email, don’t send it.

An example of a “time asset” would be setting up an FAQ on your website so that you don’t have to field so many questions from people who visit your site. This takes extra effort upfront; however, it becomes an “asset” that saves you time in perpetuity.

So, how do you put this concept into practice? Think about how your actions affect the use of your time. Invest in things that will save you time in the future and avoid things that will cost you time unnecessarily. For more on this topic, I highly recommend reading the full article.

Learn about trackable mobile-learning video lessons that leave no room for excuses.

Mark Jewell

Mark Jewell

Mark Jewell is the President and co-founder of Selling Energy. He is a subject matter expert, coach, speaker and best-selling author focused on overcoming barriers to implementing projects. Mark teaches other professionals and organizations how to turbocharge their sales success.

SUBSCRIBE-CONCEPT-876110004_727x484

Subscribe to our Blog

Get daily “drip-irrigation” reinforcement. Each day you’ll get bits of wisdom, news, highlights of upcoming courses, and quotes to keep you inspired and motivated.

Latest Articles

Selling Effectively to Homeowners' Associations and Residential Landlords

Selling Effectively to Homeowners' Associations and Residential Landlords

Selling in residential situations takes a specific kind of forethought and expertise. Here’s a primer.

4 One-page Proposal Formats

4 One-page Proposal Formats

I’m often asked how to write a successful one-page proposal. These are some templates that have worked for me over the past thirty years.

How Successful Salespeople Use Language and Intuition to Persuade Customers to Buy

How Successful Salespeople Use Language and Intuition to Persuade Customers to Buy

This week's book recommendation is about "heavy hitters": sales professionals who are able to use human nature, language, and intuition to ...