Michael Gerber, in the E-Myth Revisited, first educated me about working on my business not in it. Until then, I figured I was creating a coaching practice, much like a medical practice, and that a successful month meant I'd worked with a certain number of clients (the medical practice equivalent is obviously patients).

The realization that hit home hardest from reading his book was that, by myopically focusing on just providing coaching services to each client and the attendant administrative services, I was denying myself the pleasure of crafting and shaping my own larger creation - my business!

I was acting like a freelancer seeking work project by project and acting delighted if just one new client signed up, instead of behaving like a business owner.

Business owners, I discovered, build businesses on the foundations of documented processes, infrastructure, automation, delegation and leverage. They rejoice when their systems consistently funnel in and maintain business, not just when one person becomes a client.

I immediately instituted a "business development day" on Friday each week. It is a full day each week in which I refrain from acting as a Technician -- I don't coach or hold teleclasses. Instead, the day is dedicated to being an Entrepreneur -- the visionary, dreamer, the builder of my business's future (per Gerber's descriptions).

I confess to awakening very excited every Friday, brimming with enthusiasm for my latest project, or for the phone calls I want to make to explore opportunities to collaborate. And sometimes even just to read one of my many business books, or listen to some of the hours of teleclasses I have on my iPod.

I learn. I play "what if". I ponder on how to advance my business model, how to leverage my time (The 4-Hour Workweek is an over-the-top inspiration), how to offer more value to my clients and prospects so that they will want what I have to offer, and which tasks to delegate.

This is the day that I allow my imagination and creativity to flourish, and that keeps me deeply engaged in what I am doing professionally.

Where are you carving out your own business development time? And how are you protecting and cherishing it?