You're an entrepreneur with a family. How can you manage your time better?

Years ago I did not manage this well. I felt just working as much as possible was the answer. My turning point was my calendar - I put everything important for family and business on the calendar. Next I also put in when I would exercise each day. We have 168 hours in a week and I found it was filled with too much wasted time including mindless TV. My friend Jack Daly says Life by Design. In business the key also was meeting rhythms for my direct reports and our daily huddles so we can all be proactive. Our business has grown, I always have time for my wife and family, I exercise daily and can still fit in my hobbies (Marathons, Ski, Golf).

You have the same amount of time as anyone else. The key is how you choose to use it, and what you choose to prioritize. For me, I understand that exercise first thing in the morning makes me a better person, partner, and father. But to do that so it doesn't affect my daughter, I have to get up and work out before she does. So that means going to bed earlier. So she's asleep at 8pm, and I'm asleep at 8:30pm, so I'm able to wake up at 3:30am and work out before she wakes up. You make time for that in your life which you deem important. End of story.

Prioritize and plan by scheduling important tasks for business and family. Delegate work and outsource tasks to save time. Set boundaries between work and family time to be fully present. Use technology tools for efficiency. Prioritize self-care and stay flexible with your schedule.

I would go with the 80/20 approach the 20 percent of your tasks or goals that will give you 80 percent of return or satisfaction..list it done and go for it.

Find an amazing spouse. Be grateful as hell. Thank that spouse every spare moment and twice on Sundays. Realize that while you start a business your spouse is on the roller coaster with you, but they get magnified lows and tempered highs (we feel pain more than gain). If you want to be an entrepreneur with a family — not an entrepreneur who has a family, but with a family — thank, honor, praise your spouse. Because they’re your rockstar employee. They’re your standout performer. They’re your head … of everything else.

Juggling early morning emails with school runs, strategy meetings, and the occasional football practice. The key? A planned but flexible schedule, treating time as fluid. I leverage my digital calendar, colour-coding blocks for work, family time, and those precious moments of self-care. Realism and flexibility are my guides, allowing for the unexpected without sacrificing the non-negotiables. Regular check-ins with my team and family ensured everyone is on the same page, fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding. This approach doesn't just improve productivity; it strengthens relationships. Success and balance aren't mutually exclusive but rather a dynamic duo achievable with thoughtfulness and intent.

Get focused. Swiss private bankers have noticed that ultra-HNWIs are like fighter pilots - they focus on one target and one target alone. Successful business owners create their own business models, and involve their families in their business plans - even their kids. Dubai-based billionaire Mohamad Alabbar, the real estate tycoon of Emaar Properties “father” of the world’s tallest tower Burj Khalifa in Dubai, got inspired by his ecommerce-savvy son Rashid, who founded Sivvi.com to set up Noon.com which became a leading online retailer in the Middle East. The sportive and ever optimistic, Emirati billionaire meets once a month his kids committee composed of Gen-Zeers to stay informed about emerging trends and youthful aspirations.

Achieving a balanced life is a significant challenge for humans, as finding equilibrium between personal and professional aspects is nearly unattainable. It is crucial for individuals to understand the importance of prioritizing family dynamics when necessary, ensuring it doesn't adversely affect business needs, and vice versa. This emphasizes the importance of effective time management. Mastering time management plays a pivotal role in navigating the challenges of work-life balance to a considerable extent.

Two things that help me get through the day: My morning routine and making a list of everything. The route helps me stay grounded and set my intention for the day clearing the mind for purpose. With a million things running in my mind all day every day, I function on lists, to-do lists to go, to speak to everything that must be written done this not only helps me plan the day ahead but also keeps me going as I tick off and gives one the winning mind.

As many entrepreneurs faced same problem when they trying to schedule plan according to their wish but mostly it not work and when it continue .. it means that there is no priorities set or not clear business strategy or plan and it keep entrepreneur all time busy with work and not able to give time to family , for self care such as exercise, mediation, hobbies or relaxation. So use your calendar or planner to block out time for only work when you have office hour and when you will at home then only for family and personal activities.

I co-founded my digital health company when my boys were 3 and 6 and grew it to acquisition when they were 20 and 23 - so their whole lives! Being a founder can be a 7-day/week, 12-hour/day job, if you let it. I was ruthlessly committed to three things: (1) regular exercise, (2) dinner with family (no TV!), and (3) long-vacations (2+ weeks in Spain). Other than that, building a company is hard work and long hours, and that's just part of the deal. Interestingly, I went from "the most secure and flexible job on the planet" (tenured professor) to one of the least secure jobs in the world (start-up entrepreneur). But, I loved it and wouldn't change a thing. Now I teach and advise other to do what i did, but FASTER!

Recognize that you can’t do everything yourself. Delegate tasks that don’t require your unique expertise or personal attention. Consider outsourcing or hiring help for household chores or administrative work. Maintain Strict Family Time: Just as you allocate time for work meetings, set aside dedicated family time. Create a monthly family and social calendar to plan outings, quality time, and shared activities3. Balance Work and Personal Life: Rather than viewing personal commitments as distractions, prioritize them. Plan work around family, friends, and self-care. Remember that a well-balanced life contributes to overall productivity and happiness.

Acknowledging the difficulty in setting boundaries is deeply personal for me. As an entrepreneur, my default mode is to work incessantly—learning, growing, and pushing the limits. Yet, I've come to realize the price of this limitless commitment. Despite my natural inclination to stay immersed in work, experience has taught me that effectiveness isn't about constant engagement. Taking breaks, seeking inspiration, and allowing time for life outside work are not just beneficial but essential. Setting clear boundaries between my professional endeavors and personal time has been a challenging journey. I haven't perfected it, but during moments when I manage to establish these limits, the difference is palpable.

Boundaries are your super power! The ability to say no and be able to clearly filter the yes from the no is a well learned skill! It may sometimes require many years to master! I have put below a simple framework to test your Yes/No personality: = ask yourself, in a day how many yes do you say? Out of 100% is that 20%/30%/70% …? = ask your partner or bestie or desk mate - how often they hear you say No - once a day, once a week? = define your inner needs - do you want to be a No or Yes person? Do you need more time in your day?

Delegate or learning to delegate is one of the key entrepreneur skills as the company grows. He/she needs to evolve the leadership style when more employees are added into the organisation. Delegate someone means, letting him/her make some small mistakes and learn to react or respond. If one takes over immediately if the employee makes a mistake, they will never grow into a credible leader you want them to become.

In my experience delegating is one of the hardest things for entrepreneurs to do, as most entrepreneurs have a trait of self-sufficiency that's brought them far in work and life that they are also quite proud of. The key is to look to the growth of the business beyond your own limitations. Without involving a village, the business can only go as far as your own abilities. Delegating is an exercise both in removing from your plate what you're not strong at and finding those you trust enough who can take things on without your becoming tempted to look over their shoulders.

Trust your work colleagues to make decisions and take action on your behalf. Let them know when they have made your home life better and thank them for it. Communicating your values here can go a long way to building trust and respect at work, as well.

I recommend my clients use what I call the A.D.O method: Automate and Delegate manual tasks. Outsource tasks which aren't within your internal skillset or which don't add significant value whilst sapping time. Often entrepreneurs are scared to delegate and Outsource because they feel they will lose control and give license to errors. If you ensure you map out processes and provide standard operating procedures to outline how you want tasks to be completed. Spend a little time upfront to save time correcting errors.

It is absolutely necessary to create a system within your company that can run on autopilot. After creating such system(s), train and delegate specific tasks to your staff to manage. Once that is in place, continuous professional development opportunities are essential (quarterly or semi annually). This will not only create a competent workforce/staff, but also instill a sense of confidence and pride within your company’s work environment. Employees understand and appreciate when their employers invest in their personal and professional development. This is a win/win situation for all. Your company will expand with competent leaders and you, as the company owner will have a balanced personal and professional life.

No matter how much I plan, life throws curveballs. The key is to regularly review my schedule and priorities. I take time each week to assess what worked well and what needs adjustment. This reflection helps me optimize my time management strategies for continued success in both my business and personal life. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to time management. Experiment, find what works for you, and be willing to adapt as your needs and circumstances evolve. It's a continuous learning process, but the rewards of a well-managed schedule are immense, leading to a balanced and fulfilling life as both an entrepreneur and a family person.

One of the recommendations to young managers, especially as an entrepreneur, is that sometimes when trying to solve a problem, stop a little and evaluate the issue from a new angle. An example that is very suitable for this situation is that for a more accurate understanding of a painting, it is better to take two steps back and re-examine the image as a full frame and big picture.

I have mixed feelings about feedback about time from stakeholders. Although I can appreciate each their perspective, I feel it will be weighed into their requirements. If i would ask my wife and kids if I am too focused on my business, they would say Yes. If I would ask my team, I am pretty certain they would say I am not in the office enough and my clients would likely say I can spend more time with them. Why do I say this, because I live it, with my client advisory board, and my family. Does this really matter? Yes and no. Each day I have to manage the priorities and triage through the tasks. What I have learned now is that it is okay to finish early once in awhile.

I find that putting restrictions on yourself provides the conditions for you to see how you can improve. If you had four hours a week vs forty hours a week, what would you do? These kinds of exercises unlocks your mind to prioritize ruthlessly in a theoretical space. You can then take those learnings and apply in real life. This is a great way to figure out any busy work you are doing and stop doing it.

Life is a learning experience and I do the best I can do and admit my weaknesses and optimize my happy time and balance and be OK with that

If you are worried about work/life balance, be careful to what you aspire. If you are looking for just a side gig, it can be achieved. If you have loftier ambitions of building a company from scratch, there is no balance. Only sacrifice. Some of us look to entrepreneurship as a way to avoid 30+ years in the 9 to 5 grind, hopeful that a 24/7 investment for 10+ of those years will allow time for a successful business to unfold and then allow for work/life balance consideration. I have spent 30 years building what is now my 5th company. Was it worth it? Yes and no. My wife once said 25 years ago, "You know, when you die, no one is going to say at your funeral 'Wasn't it great the amount of time he spent building his business!'"

How do you balance the time between family and work. That's something my father nor his family ever had to think about. He worked for Proctor & Gamble. He left the house at 8am and returned at 6pm everyday, Monday through Friday. He worked hard. He supported his family. He never complained. We never asked him to take a day off. We knew what days he didn't work, weekends and holidays. I'm like my father.

In my experience those entrepreneurs who aim for the stars end up losing their relationships. The late and great Tony Pidgley Snr shared some personal thoughts with me when his wife walked out. She felt he was married to Berkeley not him. Not naming and shaming. Tony was very candid and clearly quite remorseful. Other stories have a similar resonance. Personally as I get older (and maybe more mature) I try and balance the 24/7 workaholic with family life. Luckily I have support from work (inc my team) and home to enable a very successful balance. It’s not easy but if you are focused and driven you don’t need to turn your back on your family. Don’t wake up one morning and wonder what happened when your World is suddenly lonely and empty….

None of us on our death bed would say “ I wish I spent less time with my partner and kids! “ Balancing family with entrepreneurship is not easy and takes reflection and prioritisation. You are the only person who can be a husband/ dad/ brother/ son to your family. I had to interrogate my values then put a plan in place to prioritise family. I found pre-booking holidays & limiting myself to set hours of work means I see my wife and children and they know I will be there. I’ve told my team I won’t take calls or be available during these times. I build in time to decompress before re-entering family life otherwise I find I’m not present. Managing my own mental state / performance to Deliver this plan is the hardest thing I do.

Here are some facts: - Family is always first. No one thinks about a lost deal on their final days. - Your business needs you and your output. Theoretically, you should always be there. I balance my work and family with transparency and integrity. We have decided that sacrifices are necessary sometimes. They understand: - Building a business requires trade-offs - Some days, I need to work 17 hours - I need their support every day I try to give them back by being: - Always present if I don't work - Curious about their interests - Supporting them every day