Entrepreneurial Appointments - The Importance of Making Appointments

In terms of client interaction, our businesses are also distinct. If you work in "business to business" interactions, the amount of people you engage with on a daily basis may be different than if you work in a consumer-facing industry. In some cases, appointments may be more feasible than others. If you want to eliminate distractions, you must personalize how you manage access to your specific situation. Having said that, it's worth noting that some people don't mind spending the entire day at work entertaining friends, guests, and casual acquaintances who drop in whenever they want. That is not the type of person you should be. It sets a bad example for junior employees and can hurt production because these people take up time that you don't have, and you also want to establish a professional environment.
Unless you like to remain late and play catch-up, the responsibilities of the day are enough to fill the eight working hours available. If there is no distinction between work and leisure, how can you stay competitive in the market? Anyone who is serious about succeeding and attaining effective results will set clear limits to avoid confusion. Entrepreneurs are especially vulnerable to this when their job is easily accessible. Because you are your own boss, you have an even greater duty to maintain self-discipline and self-management. "Achieve More through Self-Leadership" is the title of a book I wrote. In it, I walk you through the practicalities of how self-management can help you achieve greater results.
Appointments are a key tool for managing not only time but also life. They assist you in becoming more organized and productive. Some people don't appear to be able to keep their commitments. I once showed there for a job interview that was scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. By 11:30 a.m., there had been no word on what was going on or when the alleged job interview would take place. I thought at that point that joining this company was probably not a good idea since if you don't respect people's time, you probably don't respect them.
You may argue that appointments aren't for you, but you never go to the doctor, dentist, lawyer, or hairstylist without one. What is the reason for this? Because you won't be able to see the dentist until you make an appointment. They've set you up in a way that they like. What we allow tells the rest of the world how to treat us.
When you need to see someone, some folks are always available. You are probably not very organized if you are always available to see people on short notice. The one who has a diary will be in charge of the one who does not. Why? Because the person who does not keep a diary is always available, even if he is prone to forgetting key appointments, dates, and engagements due to a lack of organization. I used to have a boss who maintained a notebook, and he would write down everything you promised to do in your field of work, including the day and time you claimed you'd have it by. You'd forget since you didn't record it as he did, and guess who'd be found wanting when it came time to deliver. Then I made the decision that I would not commit to an activity unless I was willing to write it down, since what is written gets done!
"What if my business relies on walk-ins?" you might wonder. The fact that your company caters to walk-in clients should not be used as an excuse for chaos. Unannounced visitors might sometimes be potential clients, suppliers, cold-calling salespeople, or even valuable business contacts. If the call is useful to you and your business, there is nothing wrong with it, but I believe there must be a structure and way of doing things that adheres to certain pre-determined rules. "If you don't have something to do, please don't do it here," I recall seeing on a poster in an office. Yes, it's amusing, but it's also true. Appointments help you organize your day and allocate time to the things that are most important to you. This allows you to concentrate on your most valuable asset: the paying customer. Nothing is more frustrating than walking into a company where you want to do business and finding that the personnel is unresponsive due to a time constraint. If the workers are not busy entertaining social visitors at work, I am more understanding.