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Distractions stop us from being effective at work. They steal your time and reduce the impact you can have. Distractions slow you down as you try to achieve your goals. Everything takes longer because of all the distractions you are faced with today.

So, how do you reduce distractions?

A major source of distractions in business are your customers! No, not all customers. Just the ones who demand a lot of your time and are extremely needy. No matter how hard you try to do what they want, they still complain about everything. Then you bend over backwards to deliver and they don't pay you on time. You have to chase them for your money. Every business person or group I have spoken to about this, nod their heads as I describe these customers, because they know exactly who they are and have a picture of these customers in their head.

FIRE THEM! Today.

You know what is most interesting about these problem customers. Rarely are they your best customers. Maybe one or two are, but most of them are the bottom 5-20% of customers. The suggestion I give to all my clients is, Sack your annoying clients. The people who make a lot of noise, distract you and your staff, and add no value to your business.

The first reaction to this approach is a smile, a sense of relief and agreement. Then the resistance sets in. The objections start to flow. Yeah, well it's a good idea except that... In hard economic times we need to keep every customer we can

1. They have been buying from us for years
2. Every sale helps us get our budget
3. I don't want our competitors to get the business

And so on the excuses flow. Yes, they are excuses. These customers are not profitable for your business. They add revenue, but they take energy, time and motivation. They cause stress, anxiety and pressure.

Picture one of your best customers.

What is it like to do business with them. Most people tell me it is a joy. When you deal with a good customer, one that buys from you, respects you and treats you fairly. You and your team feel fantastic, motivated and satisfied when you do business with them. That is what business should be like. So how do you get more of these customers?

FIRE the customers that cause most of your distractions.

Your time is your most precious resource. You only have a limited amount of time. In my experience as much as 50% of it is taken up by the distraction caused by unprofitable clients. This means these distractions have stolen your time and you have don't have enough time for your good customers. You certainly do not have time to attract more ideal customers.

Give your unprofitable clients to your competitors

One of the objections I get to this strategy, as I mentioned above, is to stop our competitors getting the business. WHY? Try the opposite. Guide your high maintenance clients towards your competitors. Then your competitors will have all the headaches. While they're distracted and dealing with these needy people, you'll be busy attracting more of your ideal clients and increasing your profitability.

How do you fire clients?

There are three simple steps to firing your unprofitable clients:

1. Get a list of the bottom 20% of customers by profit (or revenue)
2. Highlight all the ones that are high maintenance and write out all the distractions they cause
3. Let these customers know what you expect from a customer (verbally and in writing) and that if they do not meet these expectations you will not supply. Give the name of one or two competitors.

Your time is so precious. Do not waste it on unprofitable customers. Reduce your distractions by firing your customers.

Related Articles:

Time Management in the workplace

Links you should visit

1) Time for FUN Put some fun into your day by watching this short video of a day in the life a Mom.

2) Time Management Central.net time management videos to inspire you to use your time wisely.

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