Take your time ... then get to work ... then rest

Chances are you are reading this while sitting at your desk at work or you're at home relaxing ... or maybe you are the adventurous type and have decided to risk life and limb and catch up on the BLOG while driving to or from work.

If you are driving then stop reading and pick it back up when you get home. Safety first.

If you are're at work and you are catching up on your news and BLOG's then read on.

If you're at home relaxing go ahead and finish this BLOG because it's a relatively short one, but then put down the iPad and REALLY relax. Don't underestimate the concept of downtime.

If you were driving and you listened to me .. welcome back.

Those of you still driving ... Shame.

When I'm driving to work I like to take that time to prepare for my day, my "to-do's", potential accounts, new responses, new products and services, and I mentally paint of a picture of how my days is going to lay out .. a flexible picture.

Believe it nor not, I'm actually one of those weirdo's who prefers to drive without the radio on ... my wife is not a fan.

On the way home from work I am typically calling my wife telling her to get ready so we can go hit up one of our favorite Happy Hour spots RA sushi. (Shameless plug).

I hope you noticed that I didn't include checking email or texting. First of all it is pretty stupid to do as it not only risks you and your passengers safety but of the other drivers and their passengers around you as well. Second, you should be able to check and respond to all of your emails during the work day or at least wait until you get home.

The key point of my oddly began BLOG is time management. How are you managing your time?

I hear all the time, "I put in 10 hours today." "I put in 12 hours today." "I put in 18 hours today all week long."

I have an intimate understanding of a long work day as I worked 23 hour days in the Navy (and more all nighters than I could count) and 18-20 hours in the bar & night club industry. So I can appreciate a long day of work ... as long as it's work.

Just because you were in the office for 10,12,18,24 hours doesn't mean you worked the whole time. How much time was wasted on Facebook, handling personal issues, long lunches, performing mundane tasks, etc ... ? What did you accomplish? What service did you provide? What product did you deliver?

Please understand that this doesn't mean that you shouldn't work long hours if the job requires it, but just make sure you are not over-working or over-extending your schedule.

What happens when you take a car and run it at 7000 RPM's all day long? You will wear out the parts and screw up the motor. Not to mention the unacceptable gas mileage.

Find your rhythm and keep the beat going.

Work hard. Work smart. But remember your down time. Golf. Go to the gym. Yardwork. Chess. Whatever.

Learning when to work hard and when not to is the key to any successful and HAPPY entrepreneur.