It’s Springtime which is the perfect time to focus on working on your business. Time to clear out those bad habits and pick up some new ones so that when you work, you’re doing it productively. Working productively boils down to working smarter and not harder. Being more productive while working on your business isn’t rocket science, but it does require being more deliberate about how you spend your time.
Track & Limit Time: Ensure you are tracking and limiting how much time you’re spending on tasks. You can use a tool like Rescue Time which lets you know exactly how much time you spend on daily tasks including social media, email, word processing, and other apps.
Implement the Two Minute Rule: If you see a task or action that you know can be done in two minutes or less, do it immediately. It is said that completing that task right away actually takes less time than having to go back and do it later.
Turn off notifications: No one can resist the allure of an email, voicemail, or text notification. Whenever you can, turn off your notifications, and instead check your email and messages during a scheduled time. Don’t let interruptions determine what your day is going to look like. Have a plan of attack laid out at the start of each day, and then do your best to stick to it.
Work in 90-minute intervals: Research has shown that people who work in intervals of no more than 90 minutes are more productive than those who work over 90 minutes at a time. Sounds good to us! However, after you take a break, you should do another 90 minutes of work.
As a business owner myself, I know that it isn’t just the day-to-day items we have to tackle, we still also need to place focus on growing our business. So how do we do this with such little time left in the day? There are so many marketing methods and options, how do you know which ones are best to continue using?
Our suggestion? Water the grass!
If certain forms of marketing or sales are working for you, stick with it. Be more consistent and spend more marketing dollars there. If sending targeted postcards brings in the biz for you, then step up your print quality game and consistency. Most of the time you will get further enhancing something you know works rather than starting a presence in new and uncharted territory.
If you are a new business it is even more important to place focus where it matters. Your main priority should be building the business, not doing busywork. Spend time marketing and networking your business instead of sitting inside your business.
This means avoiding things like:
- Administrative tasks
- Micromanagement
- Preparing slideshows
- Someone else’s responsibility
- Reports
- Crisis management
- Payroll
- Accounting
However, what you should be doing to build your business is the following:
- Planning
- Preparation
- Clarifying Values
- Visioning
- Listening to customers
- Building relationships
Our last tip is to focus on doing things that empower you, not discourage you. The whole reason you opened your business was because you know it best, it empowers you. When you feel empowered, you’re more likely to be successful. How do you achieve this profile of success? It’s not complicated. Do what you do best, do what you love, and do what empowers you… water that grass!
Thank you.