I want to start by clarifying that non-negotiables are NOT client work-related. I know you are frowning at me already, but stay put and let me explain. Heart-centred entrepreneurs will ALWAYS put their clients first. That makes sense, right? You can’t drop the ball with your clients. I am not concerned about your client’s work. I know you will get that done one way or another.
What I am worried about is the work that needs to be done in your own business. The tasks you need to perform for your company to grow and thrive. These tasks are often neglected because you make them your last priority. This is where non-negotiables come in. This isn’t about “shoulding” all over yourself and trying to get even more things done when you are already at your limit. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. You need to find something that works for you and not worry about what everyone else is telling you “should” do.
What is a non-negotiable?
Non-negotiables are tasks that you promise to get done, no matter what. There are no excuses, no “buts”, because your non-negotiables take priority over everything else. These tasks need to be carefully chosen and are directly linked to the successful completion of your goals. At first, this might seem overwhelming because…well… everything is important right?? I will show you how to identify your true non-negotiables.
Non-negotiables are important tasks that will support you as you grow your business. They are the little steps you take every day to complete your weekly, monthly and ultimately your years goals. When you allocate time to complete these “no matter what” tasks you are setting yourself up for success.
This is not about putting yourself on a strict routine that strangles your creativity. You don’t need lots of non-negotiables or have a specific completion order to see results. . What is important is that every week you complete these business growing tasks.
How does identifying them help?
Having a list of tasks that are important to your success gives you power. When you are overwhelmed or having a bad week you can focus on the non-negotiable tasks and leave the rest for next week. Having that list helps you to be consistent in the things that matter to the growth of your business. It is not that other actions aren’t needed, but it’s okay if they wait a little bit as you regroup. You are still moving forward.
It allows you to have a better idea about the actions you are taking and the impact they are having on your goals. When you know the actions you are consistently taking every week you can measure and track the results. This gives you room to adjust and make informed decisions that will take you closer to your goals.
You can use this list to build new habits. Starting might be challenging, but once these tasks become a habit it gets easy to get them done. They also become anchor points in your workweek.
What is the difference between a non-negotiable and any other task?
I know this can be hard to identify at first, but I am here to help. Non-negotiable tasks will help you succeed, they are directly linked to your yearly, quarterly and monthly goals. There are many tasks you have to complete on a daily basis to keep your business up and running. Your non-negotiables are the tasks that build up to a goal, not tasks simply keeping the engine going but improving it step by step.
That’s where the difference between being busy and being productive comes in. Surely replying to emails must be important, because people need to be able to communicate with you. However, 90% of the time emails will be busy work rather than productive work. We all have to do some busy work in order to keep our business functioning. The problem lies in not having time for anything other than busywork.
“Busy tasks” can get in the way of your business success and prevent you from achieving your goals. By prioritizing time for non-negotiable tasks you will prevent the “busy work” tasks from taking over your available time.
How do I use them in my business?
I have a weekly non-negotiable list of tasks that are important to my business. Those tasks always get completed, every week, even if nothing else does. Of course, we do much more than those tasks on a weekly basis, but they are always a priority. It is important that both me and my team are aware of what the non-negotiables are so that we can work together to make sure they get taken care of.
What I have planned for my year, quarter, month determines how I plan my next week each Sunday. I ensure that my non-negotiables are on my radar each and every week. This also allows me to keep track of my results and make sure my list is still effective. Your list of non-negotiables will probably change with time, and that’s okay, as long as you are making conscious decisions that take you closer to your goals.
Start by making a list of the tasks you THINK are the non-negotiables. (Hint – this list will inevitably be too long and full of things that aren’t really as important as you think they are.). It’s okay to have a long list at first. You will evaluate and decide what is essential. Take a look at those items at the end of each week and assess the value of each task. You will find what works for you with time.
Can they be used for my personal life too?
YEEES!!! Non-negotiables are important to have in all areas of your life. I wrote a blog on the importance of time management and this goes hand-in-hand with non-negotiables. The way you spend your time is important and non-negotiables can help make sure you allocate time for things that are important for you, that help you grow and that make you happy in life.
There are many different things you can turn into non-negotiables in your personal life. There is no right or wrong, it’s simply about choosing what works for you and what makes you happy. You can make non-negotiables regarding food, exercising, sleep, spending time with family, meditation or whatever you want to create a habit of doing more of.
If you aren’t using non-negotiables right now choose one area of your life to start. Once you are comfortable, add them to other places. The best thing you can do for yourself is to go slow and be kind to yourself.
Do you have a planner yet?
The Rockstar Business Planner is the perfect tool to plan and organize your business and your personal life. It is based on a proven system that can help you prioritize and give you a task source to create your non-negotiables list!!
