Make every task count—focus on what drives revenue.
I’m currently taking a course to sharpen my digital marketing skills, and a recent tip from the instructor really stuck with me: track your time to see if it’s moving you closer to your money-making goals.
With so many tasks on our plates, it’s easy to get sidetracked by non-revenue-generating activities—spending hours on work that keeps the business running but doesn’t directly contribute to the bottom line.
If you’re feeling stretched thin and wondering where the time (and income) is going, it’s time to focus on money-making activities and do a quick 'time audit' to see where your energy is really going each day.
What Are Money-Making Activities (MMA)?
Money-making activities are tasks that directly contribute to generating revenue for your business. They are often the tasks that move the needle forward, bring in clients, and increase sales. Here are some examples:
Client Outreach – Reaching out to potential clients or engaging with current clients to upsell services.
Sales Calls and Follow-ups – Following up on leads or scheduling calls with prospects.
Product Creation and Launch – Developing or promoting a product or service that you can monetize.
Marketing and Advertising – Creating strategic marketing content or running ads that directly target your ideal clients.
Upselling or Cross-Selling – Offering additional services or products to existing clients.
Networking and Relationship Building – Connecting with other business owners or influencers who can help generate referrals or partnerships.
These tasks have a measurable impact on your income, so prioritizing them over non-revenue tasks can make a big difference in your results.
Seeing the Big Picture: The Benefits of Time Tracking
You don’t need to micro-manage every minute of your day, but a temporary time-tracking exercise can be eye-opening. Simply jot down each task you complete throughout the day and mark it as either a “money-earning” or “non-money-earning” activity. A simple pen-and-paper approach works great for this exercise—you don’t need fancy apps. Track your time for just a few days to see where your focus is going.
As you track your time, consider rating each task on a scale from 1 to 5 based on how you feel about it. For example:
Social Media Content Creation – 2/5, feels more like a chore.
Client Follow-up Call – 5/5, feels productive and rewarding.
This can help you get clear on what energizes you and what might be better to outsource down the line.
When and What to Outsource
Once you identify which tasks are necessary but not revenue-generating, and which feel like a chore, you’ll start seeing the areas where outsourcing could free you up.
For example, if creating graphics or writing blog posts takes up time but doesn’t directly increase your income, these are tasks that a virtual assistant (VA) or specialist could handle. Outsourcing tasks that you don’t enjoy can help you focus on the work that keeps you motivated and directly contributes to your income.
Additional Tips for Focusing on Money-Making Activities
Set Boundaries with Social Media – Unless you’re actively promoting a product or engaging with potential clients, it’s easy to lose time on social media. Allocate specific times to check your accounts and stick to those boundaries.
Use a Simple Daily Plan – Start each day by identifying your top three MMAs and commit to completing these before diving into other tasks. Having this focus helps ensure you’re prioritizing your income-generating work.
Evaluate Regularly – Every week, review your time-tracking notes. If you notice recurring tasks that take time without bringing in revenue, see if there’s a way to either streamline them or delegate them.
Reframe Mindset Tasks – Some money-making activities, like follow-ups, can feel daunting but are crucial. Consider reframing these as opportunities rather than chores. This mindset shift can make a big difference.
Tracking and assessing how you spend your time is a small step that can lead to huge rewards. With a few intentional adjustments, you’ll find that you can reclaim your day for what counts—building a successful, profitable business!
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