Meeting Topic
The Value of Your Time – Paij Whinery
When Miles Davis said, “Time isn’t the main thing. It’s the only thing,” he wasn’t talking about business ownership, but he might as well have been.
Time is a resource that can’t be scaled, automated, or replaced. Every decision about how it’s spent shapes your long-term business health. Yet many owners find themselves working longer hours without feeling like they’re moving forward. Research shows around 80% of a workday is spent on low-value activities, with only 20% contributing growth.
On average, owners dedicate just 32% of their time to strategic work. The rest disappears into interruptions and administrative tasks. Growth slows, stress climbs, and that freedom we built our businesses for feels further away than ever. Discipline isn’t your problem.
The issue is structure. Leaders spend three hours each day handling unexpected issues. Every “quick task” steals focus from meaningful work. Just 10-12 minutes planning your day saves up to two hours of otherwise lost time. The link between structure and performance is clear.
According to the American Psychological Association, 20% of adults regularly postpone important work. Sometimes the cause is low motivation; other times, it’s that the task feels too large or complex. Research shows people often choose easier work because it requires less mental effort. Breaking projects into smaller steps reduces resistance and improves productivity. Despite this, 49% of professionals have never completed a time audit. Without one, it’s impossible to see where hours are going.
Business owners frequently juggle 4.2 distinct roles and 70% work more than 40 hours each week. If you’re constantly chasing your tail, start with a time audit. It’s not glamorous, but it’s revealing.
Track your week honestly. How much time goes to decisions only you can make versus things that could be automated or outsourced? You’ll be shocked at what you’re paying yourself to do. Once those patterns are visible, change becomes possible.
Questions that can guide the process:
- Which activities take up the most time?
- Do they advance goals or just maintain routine?
- How long should they take, and are you within that range?
- Could someone else complete them more efficiently?
- Are you leaving enough personal time to stay effective?
Then get intentional about your energy. Select one time management method and apply it consistently. Whether it’s time blocking, Eisenhower Matrix or Pomodoro technique, commitment matters more than the model itself. Master it and make it a non-negotiable part of your week. And yes, learn to let go. Continuing to perform tasks that could be handed off means paying yourself to operate inefficiently. Delegation is a leadership skill.
Every task you hand off creates space for work that only you can do: strategy, vision, and relationships. The goal is to spend each hour on work that holds real value. When you start valuing time as your most expensive resource, decisions get simpler. Effective time management is about intention. When every hour has a defined purpose, momentum returns. You stop chasing everything that looks urgent and focus on what’s important.
Author: Paij, Owner of Project Seven, paij@projectseven.co.nz
Next Meeting Topic
Future Proof your Body (and your workday) – Sarah McAllum
Movement is like a savings account. But instead of money, you’re investing in future freedom. Every small, mindful action now builds strength, balance and independence later.
Think of it as compound interest for your body. A few extra minutes of walking, practicing balance or learning to get up (and down) gracefully can add up to decades of extra “yes” in your future:
- Yes to chasing grandkids.
- Yes to hiking that hill.
- Yes to dancing in the kitchen.
- Yes to continuing to work where and how you want.
- Yes to growing your business without burnout.
Because moving well isn’t luck or genetics — it’s strategy. Each time you choose mindful movement over mindless exercise and awareness over autopilot, you cast a vote for your future self.
Movement and awareness don’t just happen at the gym or on the yoga mat. It’s what happens in between that really counts — including at work.
The Power Pause
Whether your “office” is a desk, clinic, or building site, your body does the real work. Recharge it with a 2 minute Power Pause.
- Sit or stand comfortably.
- Close your eyes and count slowly to ten.
- Notice any tension (jaw, shoulders, belly) and soften it.
- Take three easy breaths, making exhale a little longer.
- Open your eyes.
That’s it — you’ve shifted your nervous system from “go-go-go” to calm focus so you can think more clearly and be more productive. A small but powerful deposit in your long-term well-being.
Don’t Just Sit (or Stand) There
Your body (and brain) thrive on variety. Yet most of us repeat the same patterns: crossing the same leg, leaning to one side or often holding our breath. These habits feel normal but quietly build stiffness and fatigue over time.
Posture and movement are dynamic processes. So, sprinkle some movement snacks through your day:
- Roll your shoulders and let your spine round and arch.
- Shift your weight from foot to foot (or wriggle!).
- Stretch your arms, open your chest and poke out your tongue (go on, I dare you).
- Stand to take a call, then sit differently after
Small, playful shifts wake up your circulation, refresh your focus, boost productivity and make your body a happier place to live.
Bonus Workday Tweaks
- Relax your grip on your mouse or steering wheel. Your wrists, shoulders and jaw will thank you.
- Look up! Glancing into the distance relaxes your eyes, neck and face (bonus wrinkle prevention — you’re welcome!).
These micro-adjustments are secret hacks to find comfort, clarity and calm. Because when your body moves, your brain follows.
The Bottom Line
Moving well isn’t about avoiding pain or settling for “good enough for my age” — it’s about expanding what’s possible. How you move today shapes how you live tomorrow. You’re your most important resource, so keep investing in your future self. The one still saying “yes” to adventure, meaningful work, and getting up off the floor with style.
Sarah McAllum is a Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner and movement coach helping people future-proof their bodies with smart, mindful movement.
