With employees across the globe demanding shorter working weeks, and with the popularity of books like Tim Ferris’ The 4-Hour Workweek, it’s no wonder you’re curious about cutting down the hours you’re sat at the desk.
After all, the hours you spend working are hours you’re NOT spending with your family or on your passions, hobbies, or health.
The traditional 40-hour working week forces you to spend the majority of your productive waking hours on your work, leaving little time for the things you love.
To achieve a 3-day working week, a few things truly matter. But, before you can focus on cutting down your hours, you have to start with the view from 30,000 feet.
Asking yourself the big question
Here’s the most important question of them all: can you dependably, reliably, and profitably solve a big problem for clients?
Not an easy one to answer, is it?
Let’s break down the question:
- Dependably, reliably: can your clients count on you? Do you deliver excellent services followed by excellent results every single time?
- Profitably: are you making a profit as you offer these excellent services? Keep in mind that your time is your most valuable asset, and it’s the only resource you can never get back.
- Solve a big problem: what is the pain point for your clients? What problem do you solve for them better than anyone else? How are you adding VALUE to their lives?
- Clients: Who are your clients? Where are they?
Honing in on your clients
Don’t worry – we’ll get back to the 3-day working week thing in a moment. But, first, you need to know a little more about your clients.
Achieving more by working less all comes down to how you interact with your clients, and how you understand their unique needs, wants, and desires.
What follows are five points of reference that’ll get you thinking about your clients in just the right way.
- Know your clients
Do you truly know who your clients are, and who they are not?
Demographics are important, sure. But getting into the psychographics of your client base will help you discover their true needs and pain points.
Are you asking them enough questions? If not, why not?
2. Help your potential clients know YOU
Can you get your clients’ attention?
Your clients must see you as a relevant resource in order to trust you. What are you doing right now to connect with potential clients?
How are you building yourself up as a source of knowledge within your niche?
3. Help your clients realise that they have a problem
Can you help your potential clients realise that they have a problem worth solving?
Like so many things in life, we often need a heads-up.
For example, a consumer may not realise that they are thirsty until they see an advert for their favourite cold beverage.
Once your ideal client knows that there’s a problem, they’ll be more open to experiencing a solution; your solution.
4. Turn your clients’ demand into action - and at a profit
Can you turn your clients’ demand into action, and can you do it profitably?
If the answer is yes, you’re golden.
5. Give your clients a brilliant and successful experience
If you blow your clients away with excellent experiences, they will start to recommend you to people within their network.
That kind of word-of-mouth will bring you even more clients. It is absolute GOLD DUST.
Now… back to that 3-day workweek thing
If you want to cut down the time you work each week, here’s the question you must ask yourself: can you delegate the tasks associated with the questions above to other people? Better still, can you automate those tasks?
That’s how you break free from the five-day working week. You can set your own hours and take control of your own life.
If you’re not sure if this is possible for you, or you can’t do it all by yourself, we can help.
Reach out.