To succeed, founders must manage their time expertly. But how?

This week’s Executive Prioritization module at the University of Entrepreneurial Excellence (UEE) has the answer.

We begin by reviewing scientifically proven, not-at-all contradictory time management frameworks from top executives and management gurus:

• Morning prioritization: Apple’s Tim Cook wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to carefully answer emails.

• Morning de-prioritization: Amazon’s Jeff Bezos avoids decisions until 10 a.m. and prefers one-character email replies.

• Deep Work: Cal Newport prescribes 90-240 minute blocks of uninterrupted focus.

• Pomodoro Technique: Francesco Cirillo says 25-minute sprints with short breaks are the key.

We follow this consistency with study of the 5-step UEE Time Management for Founders Framework™, a system developed by founders such as myself who have managed the CHAOS:

1. Clear your schedule of meetings.

2. Hack your calendar with the trendiest app you’ll surely abandon next week

3. Assign your work to your team; micromanage the hell out of them

4. Optimize micro-management with another trendy app

5. Schedule the inevitable meetings you cleared in Step 1; scold the team for ruining your time management techniques

To start testing your Time Management knowledge, we start with this week’s Entrepreneurial Excellence Exam question (see below; bring No. 2 pencils).

Let’s open the room to debate. How do you manage your time? Do you have any tips and tricks that would benefit entrepreneurs?

Post your comments. Top grades awarded for consistency.

To fix this, I’ve been spending more time on LinkedIn.

After a few weeks on the platform, I’m astounded by the quality, depth, and authenticity of such a rich body of knowledge. Every post reveals another eternal truth:

• 17 years in the same swivel chair warrants celebratory fireworks and confetti GIFs

• every professional needs a coach, mentor, therapist, personal trainer, dietician and emotional support animal

• knitting a sweater teaches you invaluable lessons about lead generation

It’s as if a marketing text book made love to “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and out popped the answer to life’s great mysteries.

I’m not even sure why I bothered with that MBA.

To show my appreciation and MS Office skills, I present you with a slide deck of nuggets of knowledge I’ve picked up in these few short weeks. Enjoy.

Share your favorite Thought Leadership quotes in the comments. Let’s co-create a repository of wisdom that elevates us all!

Thought Leadership Greatest Hits Vol 1

1.16MB ∙ PDF file

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