November 2020

Today, I am gonna share something really interesting about effectiveness and efficiency. About why some people get more in life and why some people get less.

Nonetheless, there is something common across all of us, our willingness to achieve more in life by doing more and more in our daily routine.

But there are some things that set apart people who achieve everything in life do. What is it?

Let’s begin with Memory Leak.

Memory Leak is a technical term which programmers understand. In layman’s lingo, whenever software starts on your computer, it requests for memory to operate. Once you are done and close the software, it should ideally release back the memory requested, but it does not. This unreleased memory is known as Memory Leak.

Now, let’s apply this to our everyday life at the office, we have multiple tasks at hand. We just begin to work on them without prioritizing and then finishing one after another. When we get stuck on a task and start work on another task but are still thinking about the previous unfinished task in the back of our mind, then we are experiencing a memory leak.

We all encounter this in our everyday lives and this impacts our productivity and efficiency.

Next, let’s talk about Unfinished Bridges.

Unfinished Bridges is a pretty straightforward concept. The bridges that we start work on but are left incomplete for some reason.

Similarly, when applied to work or personal life, we make a wish list. New Year Resolutions is a good example here. We all make a wish list, losing weight is possibly the most common and important one on the list for 90% of people.

You join the gym, pay the yearly membership upfront and then stop going from the 2nd week onwards. That’s an unfinished bridge.

Professionally, we initiate too many projects and then focus on just one, leaving all others as unfinished bridges.

This directly reflects on the effectiveness of the work done.

Coming to the last and third part, Rocks & Sand, we all have heard the story of Rocks, Pebbles & Sand in a Jar. {If not, connect with me on LinkedIn and I will share the story with you.}

For my version of the story, we will use Rocks & Sand only.

Rocks are the important things in life – You (Health), Family (Love), Income (Job), and Friends (Support). Sand is the materialistic things, like expensive cars, expensive houses, hobbies and so on.

When we try to fill Rock & Sand into the jar, we all will end up having to make a choice – to have more sand in a jar and less rocks or to have less sand in a jar and more rocks. It is completely an individual decision.

The point that I am trying to make here is, no matter how hard you try, there are some things that are bound to be missed out on to accomplish this and it’s fine. If it does not happen today, it will happen tomorrow. What’s more important is to have no memory leaks and unfinished bridges in your daily routine.

I would like to sign off with a note, “Stay Hungry, Stay Focussed, and Stay Foolish”.

Here’s a question I ask every small business owner—especially solopreneurs—right out of the gate:

“What’s your True Hourly Rate?”

Go on. Take a guess.

Here’s what I usually hear:

“Oh, I charge $200 an hour for consulting, so my hourly rate is $200.”

My response?

Are you working 40 hours a week at that rate, every week?
Didn’t think so.

Then come the other classics:

“I’ve never really thought about it.”

Really?

“But I sell products—I don’t charge by the hour.”

Yes, but trust me, you still have a rate.

Every hour you spend on your business is worth something.

Sometimes I get people quoting a “real hourly rate,” based on some calculator they found online.

Which is nice, but it often still misses the point. (We’ll talk about that in a sec.)

Bottom line?

If you’re serious about running a business and not just dabbling in a hobby, you need a clear, honest number.

Because knowing your true hourly rate changes everything.

So, What Is Your True Hourly Rate?

It’s simple:

Your True Hourly Rate is the dollar value of your time.

Not your dream billing rate. Not your top-line revenue.
It’s what your time is actually worth to you, based on what you’d accept to do only the work you love.

Think of it like this:
Imagine a dream employer offers you this deal:

Do only the things you love (sales, coaching, product design—whatever lights you up)
Set your own schedule
Be your own boss
No risk of getting fired for the next 5 years

How much would they have to pay you, per year, to make that a “hell yes”?

Got the number?

Now divide it by 2,000.

That’s your True Hourly Rate.

(Why 2,000? That’s roughly how many working hours are in a year if you work full time.)

So, if your magic number is $120,000 per year: Your True Hourly Rate is $120,000 ÷ 2,000 = $60/hour.

Why This Number Matters More Than You Think

Once you know your rate, every decision gets clearer.

That networking meeting that takes 3 hours and brings zero leads?
Costs you $180.
That admin task you could delegate for $15/hour, but you’re doing it yourself?
You’re losing $45/hour in opportunity cost.
That prospect who keeps “picking your brain” for free?
You get the idea.

This number becomes your filter. Your compass. It helps you say no faster, delegate smarter, and focus on high-return tasks.

What About “Real Hourly Rate” Calculators?

If you’re curious, there are articles online about computing your “real hourly rate” after taxes, expenses, etc.

That’s useful for freelancers or employees trying to compare gigs.
But for small business owners? Meh.

Too much detail. Not enough action.

What you need is a quick, gut-check number to drive decisions.

Your True Hourly Rate is that number.

One Last Thought…

You don’t have to be perfect. You’ll still waste time here and there. That’s life.

But once you know your True Hourly Rate, you’ll start thinking differently.
You’ll defend your time more fiercely. And over time, that changes your income, your business, and your peace of mind.

What’s your number? Figure it out. Write it down. Stick it to your screen.

If this made you think, share it with a fellow business owner who needs the wake-up call.

Let’s stop selling ourselves short.

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