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24 NO B.S. Time Management for EntrepreneursCHAPTER 3 / HOW TO DRIVE A STAKE THROUGH THE HEARTS OF THE TIME VAMPIRES OUT TO SUCK YOU DRYto recognize these vampires on sight is the first step in protecting yourself from them. Being willing to deal with them as you would a vile, evil, blood-sucking creature of the dark is the first step in freeing yourself from them. Maybe the most insidious of all the Time Vampires is Mr. Have-You-Got-a-Minute? He lurks in the shadows in the hall outside your office, near the elevator, near the cafeteria, in the bushes next to the parking lot, wherever it is possible to catch you off guard. If you give in to him a few times, he becomes emboldened and starts %u201cdropping in%u201d to your office or home. He disarms you with %u201cHave you got a minute?%u201d or %u201cI just need a couple minutes of your time%u201d or %u201cI just have one quick question.%u201d He has a unique knack of pulling this stunt right when you are in the middle of doing something incredibly important%u2014getting mentally prepared for a most important phone call, or at some similar moment. If you are in his vicinity all day, he%u2019ll also %u201cdrop by%u201d a dozen times a day%u2014each time needing %u201cjust a minute.%u201dThis Time Vampire can also drain your blood at a distance. The equivalent of loitering in your office doorway with %u201cjust a quick question%u201d is the random email or text message. I say random because it is. Any time, every time this Vampire has a thought, he sends an email. Any time, every time he has a question%u2014why go look something up or figure it out?%u2014he texts you. Unpunished, he%u2019ll drop by this way 3 times, 6 times, 20 times a day.Each time he drops by, picture him sinking his teeth into your neck and sucking out a pint or two. That IS the effect he has.The temptation to give in to this particular vampire is almost irresistible. First of all, it just seems easier to deal with his %u201cone quick question%u201d immediately than to put him off and have it hanging over you for later. Second, it feels rude and unreasonable to refuse him. But the truth is, he deserves no