The Anchored Entrepreneur

The Anchored Entrepreneur

“Lord Jesus there’s a fire… Ain’t nobody got time for that!”

This quote comes from a viral YouTube video of Kimberly Wilkins in 2012. She had just escaped an apartment fire and, in her relief and shock, blurted out a line that somehow resonated with millions. If you’ve ever felt like your day is on fire and you have zero time to deal with it, you know exactly how she felt.

When the Fire Hits

When things are perfect and going to plan, it’s easy to be productive. However, this is the exception rather than the norm. Fires will come. How do we handle not having the time or capacity to deal with a sudden change? If you’ve followed my other posts this year, you know time has been in short supply. This month, the Flu made a visit to our house. We definitely didn’t have time for that. So what do you do when your plate is full and something else just got piled on top?

My natural gut reaction is usually panic. To battle this I’ve learned to lean on a process I created when I was first being coached:

1. Breathe

2. Slow down

3. Talk to God

When we are hit with a new fire, our body falls into a fight-or-flight mode. By deliberately inhaling, slowing down, and turning to the One who truly holds control, I can shift from a place of panic to one of peace. Instead of scrambling for more control, I hand it back to God, remembering He can carry what I cannot.

Ruthless Prioritization

Once I’ve calmed myself, it’s time to take stock of the situation. Most of the time, the “fire” isn’t as big as I initially think. Still, there is only one way to make progress when you have no margin in your day: ruthless prioritization.

Ask yourself: What is the 1 or 2 most important tasks I need to accomplish with the time I have? Everything else should be delegated or eliminated until those tasks are done.

Interestingly, when we’re under a time crunch, a lot of what we originally labeled as “urgent” turns out not to be. Often, we create our own deadlines that can actually be postponed with minimal consequences.

Another interesting lesson I’ve learned is Parkinson’s Law. Parkinson’s law says work expands to fill the time available for its completion. What happens when you have 4 hours to complete a task you typically have 8 hours to complete? You’d remove any steps that don’t directly contribute to you finishing it. You’d find ways to work as efficiently as possible, remove any distractions, ask for help, and get it done. You’d be surprised at how much time we actually don’t need when we are in a time crunch.

The 1-2-3 Technique

What if we could prepare our response to fires before they happen? Wouldn’t it be great to already know what tasks you can drop when a fire happens? Let me introduce you to the 1-2-3 Technique, a simple but effective way to prioritize and schedule your day.

1. 1 Major Task – The one thing that, if accomplished today, makes the day a win.

2. 2 Medium Tasks – Goals that would be great to finish if you have time after the major task.

3. 3 Small Tasks – Extras that are nice to complete if everything else goes smoothly.

When a new fire arises, you immediately know what you can remove or postpone to make space. Also, tackling your highest priority first each day reduces the chance of your entire day getting derailed.

If you did nothing but consistently knock out that single highest-priority task every day for a month, how much progress would you make? How about a full year? We often overestimate what we can get done in a single day but underestimate what we can achieve in a year.

One Hand on the Weapon, One Hand on the Work

While it’s great to have a plan for ourselves when crisis hits, it’s even better when we share the load. Consider Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls in the midst of constant threats from enemies:

Nehemiah 4:15-20

¹⁵ When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

¹⁶ From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah ¹⁷ who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, ¹⁸ and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.

¹⁹ Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. ²⁰ Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”

Nehemiah couldn’t build the wall or defend everyone alone. Yet by trusting God, coordinating their new priorities, and relying on their community, they rebuilt the wall in just 52 days.

Spiritual Gifts at Work Webinar

For those looking for more faith-oriented business support, I am co-hosting the Spiritual Gifts at Work webinar every Monday at 4 pm ET with Ed Kang, a 7x startup founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Startups.com. We’re going to explore common problems Christian Entrepreneurs face and how they can leverage their their spiritual gifts while building their businesses. I’d love for you to join us.

Click here to register

Final Thoughts

There will be fires, and we often don’t have the time for them. But remember, God doesn’t leave us on our own. He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us, and one day, all fires will cease. Until that day, prepare for how to respond to the unexpected, prioritize effectively, lean on your team, and press forward.

Thank you so much for the kind response to the last several posts of The Anchored Entrepreneur. As long as you find it valuable, I plan to continue to produce more resources that help you as Christian Entrepreneurs grow in faith and business. I have some big plans and resources to share with you soon. We’re just getting started.

May you stay anchored in Christ,

Jacob Dyke