Decreasing Labor Intensity
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:49 am
In another thread I mentioned my continual efforts to reduce my labor intensity. I do not want to work harder. It's related to working smarter - but more than that.
It is understanding the work you do that provides you (and your client) with value. My best (and most time-profitable) example:
When I started as an insurance consultant I would review a client's insurance program and prepare a report that was sometimes 60 pages long. I soon realized that it was the 5 pages describing the problems identified that the client was interested in. The prior 55 pages was nice, but not valuable to the client.
I stopped providing the first 55 pages and nobody complained. In fact, my clients started telling me that they were glad I didn't prepare a "big, long report that they had to read."
My clients want meat and that's what I provide. Think of the time savings!
I am constantly working to reduce my time investment in projects and tasks. Most people live in a state of time-poverty. I can not create more hours. I can use the hours to provide me with more value.
It is understanding the work you do that provides you (and your client) with value. My best (and most time-profitable) example:
When I started as an insurance consultant I would review a client's insurance program and prepare a report that was sometimes 60 pages long. I soon realized that it was the 5 pages describing the problems identified that the client was interested in. The prior 55 pages was nice, but not valuable to the client.
I stopped providing the first 55 pages and nobody complained. In fact, my clients started telling me that they were glad I didn't prepare a "big, long report that they had to read."
My clients want meat and that's what I provide. Think of the time savings!
I am constantly working to reduce my time investment in projects and tasks. Most people live in a state of time-poverty. I can not create more hours. I can use the hours to provide me with more value.