No Time for Business Development? Here's Your 30-Minute Daily Fix

"I'm swamped with client work and don't have time for business development."

Sound familiar? If you clicked on this post, chances are you've caught yourself saying exactly this – probably more times than you'd like to admit. You're drowning in deliverables, your calendar looks like a game of Tetris gone wrong, and the thought of adding "find new clients" to your never-ending to-do list makes you want to crawl back into bed.

But here's the thing: that excuse is about to get obliterated. Because what you're really saying isn't that you don't have time – it's that you're not making time. And that distinction? It changes everything.

The Brutal Truth About Time (That Nobody Wants to Hear)

We all get the same 24 hours. Revolutionary concept, I know. But here's where it gets interesting: if you're working six hours a day (hey, maybe that's why you went fractional in the first place), then you have the exact same six hours as every other successful fractional executive out there.

The difference? How they choose to spend those precious hours.

When you spend 100% of your working time on client delivery, that's not fate – that's a choice. And frankly, it's a choice that's slowly strangling your business, even if you're too busy to notice.

Here's the harsh reality: Business development isn't just important – it's the most important thing you do. Period. End of story.

You could be the most brilliant fractional CMO, the most strategic Chief of Staff, or the most innovative Product Lead on the planet. But if you're not consistently attracting new clients, your business has an expiration date. Someone who's merely "good" at delivery but excellent at business development will outlast you every single time.

Ouch, right? But stick with me – this is where it gets good.

The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

Most of us aren't natural-born salespeople. We're marketers, operators, strategists, finance gurus – not glad-handing, quota-crushing sales machines. The whole "selling yourself" thing feels gross and cringeworthy.

So let's kill that narrative right now.

You're not selling. You're sharing your zone of genius.

That's it. That's the entire reframe. Instead of thinking "Ugh, I have to promote myself and be all salesy," think "I get to find people with problems I'm uniquely gifted at solving."

You love this work – that's why you're doing it. You get energized by solving complex business challenges, working with smart executives, and making a real impact. Business development is simply the process of finding more opportunities to do exactly that.

If this reframe doesn't land for you, find one that does. Because if your interpretation of business development is "this sucks and I hate it," guess what? You're never going to make time for it. But if you can frame it in a way that feels authentic and empowering? Game changer.

The 30-Minute Daily Solution (That Actually Works)

Ready for the magic number? Thirty minutes. That's it.

Out of your six working hours, you're going to invest just 30 minutes – a mere 1/12 of your day – in the single most important activity for your business's long-term success.

Here's your simple daily formula:

• 15 minutes: Create content (LinkedIn is your best bet)
• 15 minutes: Connect with new people or engage with existing connections

Do this every single morning, before you touch anything else. No email, no Slack, no client work. Just these two activities, done consistently, every damn day.

"But I don't want to be one of those LinkedIn thought leaders..."

Nobody's asking you to become a cringe-worthy personal brand guru. This is about sharing valuable insights with people who need exactly what you offer. Remember: zone of genius, not shameless self-promotion.

The compound effect is real. We've seen fractional executives build $1.4 million pipelines in just four months using this exact approach. The secret sauce? Most people aren't willing to do this simple thing consistently. Which means less competition for you.

Setting Yourself Up for Success (Because Willpower Is Overrated)

Look, discipline is great, but systems are better. Here's how to make this 30-minute habit bulletproof:

The Night-Before Protocol: Every evening, write down exactly what you'll do first thing in the morning. No vague "I'll do some business development." Get specific: "I'll write a LinkedIn post about the biggest mistake I see fractional CFOs make" and "I'll connect with five CFOs at SaaS companies."

Apply the 80/20 Rule: Eighty percent of your business development results will come from 20% of your efforts. Those 30 minutes? That's your 20%. Stop overthinking the rest.

Leverage Technology: Use AI to speed up your manual processes (but don't let it replace your authentic voice). Consider tools that make content creation faster while keeping it genuinely you.

Get Support: Whether it's a VA to handle the administrative stuff or a system that streamlines your workflow, invest in what helps you show up consistently.

Your Business Depends On This (No Pressure)

Here's what's going to happen if you implement this 30-minute daily practice:

1. You'll build a never-ending pipeline of qualified prospects who already know, like, and trust you
2. You'll become known for your specific expertise in your industry
3. You'll attract higher-quality clients who seek you out rather than the other way around
4. You'll sleep better knowing your business isn't dependent on referrals and luck

And here's what happens if you don't:

Your current clients finish their projects. Referrals dry up. You panic, scramble to find new work, and eventually consider whether that corporate job wasn't so bad after all.

The choice is yours.

Time to Stop Making Excuses

You have the time. You've always had the time. The question is: are you finally ready to make the time?

Thirty minutes a day. Two and a half hours a week. That's all that stands between you and a thriving, sustainable fractional business.

Set that timer. Write down tomorrow's plan tonight. And start building the pipeline that will carry your business for years to come.

Because the world needs what you have to offer – but only if they know you exist.

Ready to master LinkedIn for your fractional business? Check out the tools and strategies that can help you execute this 30-minute daily plan with precision and authenticity.

Mylance

‍This value-added article was written by Mylance. Mylance takes your marketing completely off your hands. We build the marketing machine that your Fractional Business needs, but you don't have time to run. So it operates daily, growing your brand, completely done for you.Instead of dangling numbers in front of you, our approach focuses on precise and thoughtful input: targeted outreach to the right decision makers, compelling messaging that resonates, and content creation that establishes trust and legitimacy.To apply for access, submit an application and we'll evaluate your fit for the service. If you’re not ready for lead generation, we also have a free, vetted community for top fractional talent that includes workshops, a rates database, networking, and a lot of free resources to support your fractional business.