30d • General discussion
Lesson 7: Maximising Time Isn’t About Speed — It’s About Process
Most freelancers and small agencies don’t have a time problem.
They have a process problem.
They’re busy. Fully booked. Always “on”.
Yet somehow still firefighting, context-switching, and feeling behind.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth I learned the hard way:
Time only disappears when the client and project process is loose.
When the process is tight, time multiplies.
Where Time
Actually
Gets Lost
Not in the work itself — but in everything around it:
- Vague briefs
- Open-ended scopes
- Clients “just checking one thing”
- Decisions being revisited
- Feedback arriving in drips instead of batches
- You holding everything in your head
None of this feels dramatic in the moment.
But it quietly destroys focus and output.
The Shift: Stop Managing Tasks, Start Managing Constraints
High-output operators don’t work faster.
They remove ambiguity.
That means designing your client and project process so that:
- Decisions happen once
- Feedback is structured
- Scope has edges
- Time has hard boundaries
Constraints create clarity — for you and the client.
Practical Ways to Maximise Time Through Process
1. Front-load thinking, not execution
Spend more time defining:
- What success looks like
- What is not included
- Who signs off and when
This saves 10x the time later.
2. Batch communication by default
- One feedback doc, not five emails
- One weekly update, not daily pings
- One decision point, not rolling opinions
Urgency is usually manufactured. Structure removes it.
3. Turn “availability” into a system
If clients can reach you anytime, they will.
Set:
- Fixed response windows
- Clear working hours
- Defined delivery milestones
This isn’t being difficult — it’s being professional.
4. Kill soft deadlines
“End of the week”
“ASAP”
“Whenever you can”
These are time leaks. Replace them with:
- Specific dates
- Specific deliverables
- Specific consequences if missed
5. Protect deep work with process, not discipline
Relying on willpower fails.
Process should force focus:
- No mid-scope changes
- No work starting without inputs
- No feedback outside review windows
The Counterintuitive Result
When your process tightens:
- Clients feel more looked after
- Projects move faster with less effort
- You work fewer hours with better output
Because clarity reduces anxiety — on both sides.
Final Thought
If you feel busy but not effective, don’t ask:
“How do I work faster?”
Ask:
“Where is my process allowing ambiguity to exist?”
That’s where your time is going.
Curious — what part of your client or project process drains the most time right now?
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Lesson 7: Maximising Time Isn’t About Speed — It’s About Process
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