Does this sound familiar? You spend your days expertly managing your clients’ businesses – implementing systems, hitting deadlines, and driving growth – while your own business tasks pile up in the background.
This common challenge among Online Business Managers often leads to stunted business growth and burnout.
The good news? With intentional strategic planning, you can break this cycle and create space for both client success and personal business development.
Time Mapping for Success
Strategic time mapping is the foundation of a well-run OBM business. Instead of letting client work consume every available hour, start by taking a step back to intentionally design your work week.
Begin with your ideal total working hours – perhaps that’s 40 hours, or maybe you’re aiming for a more flexible 30-hour week to accommodate other life priorities.
Here’s how to implement effective time-blocking strategies:
Step One: Priority Mapping (Before Time Blocking)
- List all recurring tasks for both client work and your business
- Identify your highest-impact activities
- Note which tasks require your peak energy hours
- Determine which tasks could be batched or automated
Step Two: Strategic Time Block Assignment
- Client Work (60-70% of total hours): Reserve your peak productivity hours for client deliverables and meetings
- Business Development (20-25%): Schedule specific times for marketing, networking, and skill development
- Administrative Tasks (10-15%): Dedicate time for internal operations
Pro Tip: Create “power blocks” – 90-minute focused sessions for your most important tasks, whether client work or business development. These uninterrupted periods can dramatically increase your productivity and ensure your own business gets the attention it deserves.
Setting Realistic Growth Goals
Without clear, achievable goals, even the best time management strategy can leave you directionless and frustrated. As OBMs, we’re skilled at creating strategic roadmaps for our clients – now it’s time to apply that expertise to our own business development.
Start by defining what success looks like for your business in the next 3-6 months. Rather than setting overwhelming targets, focus on incremental progress in key areas:
Revenue Goals:
- Monthly income targets based on your current capacity
- Specific number of clients you can realistically serve
- Additional revenue streams you want to develop
Business Development Milestones:
- Systems you need to implement or improve
- Marketing initiatives to launch
- Professional development or certifications to pursue
Implementation Strategy:
- Break down quarterly goals into weekly action items
- Schedule non-negotiable weekly business development blocks
- Create accountability measures (perhaps with a business buddy or coach)
- Set monthly review dates to track progress and adjust as needed
Remember: Your business deserves the same level of strategic planning and attention you give your clients. By treating your business as a priority client, you ensure its growth doesn’t get lost in the day-to-day client work.
Aligning Your Rates with Time Management
One of the most crucial aspects of sustainable business growth is ensuring your rates accurately reflect both your available time and business needs. Many OBMs undercharge because they haven’t factored in the full scope of their time allocation and business expenses – a mistake that often leads to overwork and undervaluing your expertise.
To set rates that support your business model:
Step One: Calculate Your True Hourly Requirements
- Start with your annual income goal
- Add business expenses (software, training, team support)
- Include taxes and benefits
- Factor in vacation time and sick days
- Account for business development time
Step Two: Consider Your Billable Hours
Remember that only 60-70% of your working hours are actually billable to clients. Your rates need to account for the non-billable time spent on business development and administrative tasks.
For example, if you work 40 hours per week but only 25 are billable, your hourly rate needs to be higher to compensate for the non-billable hours.
Step Three: Regular Rate Assessment
- Review your rates quarterly
- Track time spent on each client and project
- Evaluate the return on investment for your time
- Adjust packages and offerings based on data
- Plan rate increases as your expertise grows
Pro Tip: Create a “business health dashboard” to monitor the relationship between your time investment and revenue. This helps ensure you’re maintaining a healthy balance between client work and business development while meeting your financial goals.
Conclusion
Whether you’re just starting your OBM journey or looking to level up your existing business, strategic planning is no longer optional – it’s essential for sustainable growth. By intentionally mapping your time, setting achievable goals, and ensuring your rates reflect your true value, you create a foundation for success that serves both you and your clients.
Remember, the time you invest in your own business isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessary investment in your future success.
Start today by implementing one of these strategies – whether it’s establishing dedicated business development blocks, creating your business health dashboard, or reviewing your rates. Your business deserves the same expert attention you give your clients.
Ready to transform your approach to business planning? Join us in The OBM Circle community, where you’ll find support, resources, and fellow OBMs who understand your journey. Together, we can create businesses that thrive while maintaining the work-life balance we deserve.
We’d love to meet you!
Founder of Intentionally Flourish and The OBM Circle – I am an Online Business Manager dedicated to partnering with US-based, female entrepreneurs to nurture and scale their businesses for intentional growth.
