| As a business owner, it is easy to get so caught | | | | small daily ritual will save you much time down the |
| up in the day to day running of your business that | | | | road and even prevent the loss of business |
| you miss out on opportunities for dramatic | | | | opportunities. |
| business growth and evolution. Below are 7 tips | | | | 4. Really Focus Your Marketing Efforts - Review |
| that you can apply TODAY to free up some of | | | | all of your marketing activities to ensure that you |
| your time and energy to allow you to recognize | | | | are consistently reaching a high density of your |
| and take action on great opportunities. | | | | target market with each and every marketing |
| | | | activity. Otherwise, your marketing efforts will be |
| 1. Optimize How You Use Your Time Work from | | | | diluted and you will have to invest more time and |
| a schedule with a specific time assigned each day | | | | money than necessary. For example, if one of |
| to complete routine predictable activities such as | | | | your marketing strategies is networking, join only |
| returning phone calls, reviewing your mail, reading | | | | those groups where at least 75% of the |
| and responding to email, filing, order processing, | | | | members are your target market. |
| etc. Then, use larger blocks of time (minimum of | | | | 5. Delegate or Outsource Specialized Tasks - For |
| 2 hours) for the scheduling of work on large | | | | those critical tasks that you either do not do well |
| projects or activities. Short blocks of time make it | | | | or you continually put off doing, find some help. |
| difficult to really focus on the work and also | | | | Hire a virtual assistant to update your newsletter, |
| create unnecessary lost time as you transition | | | | do bulk mailings, develop and maintain databases |
| from one activity to another more often. | | | | or format presentations. Delegate tasks to |
| 2. Strive for "Professional" Rather Than "Perfect" | | | | subordinates and provide them an opportunity to |
| Outcomes - It's easy to fall into the trap of | | | | learn something new about the business or |
| holding on to a written proposal or piece of | | | | organization. For small business owners who don't |
| marketing material or even delaying the release | | | | have employees seek to barter for services with |
| of a new product or service offering until it is | | | | other professionals. |
| "just right". By setting and honoring clear | | | | 6. Deal With the Energy Drainers - Most business |
| professional quality standards for products, | | | | owners and professionals have one or more |
| services, written materials, etc you can deliver | | | | things that they have been meaning to do but |
| high quality to your customers and clients every | | | | haven't gotten around to yet (for any number of |
| time and know that your development time is | | | | reasons). As time passes, the anxiety caused by |
| being used wisely. If you find that you are well | | | | these undone (and often overdue) tasks grows |
| beyond the estimated completion time for a | | | | rapidly and can have a dramatic impact on your |
| project, check yourself to make sure that you | | | | level of energy. It also makes it increasingly |
| haven't fallen prey to a need for perfection. | | | | difficult to actually get the task(s) in question |
| 3. Create/Maintain A Clean and Organized Work | | | | completed. If there is anything on your "To Do" |
| Environment - Don't waste time searching for or | | | | list which causes you queasiness when you think |
| traveling to access things in your work area. | | | | about it, commit to do it now or arrange to have |
| Different tasks may require you to work in | | | | someone do it for you. Stop letting these items |
| different locations within your office. For work in | | | | drain your valuable energy. |
| each location, make sure that all of the necessary | | | | 7. Eliminate Unnecessary Interruptions Establish a |
| furniture, equipment, forms and supplies are | | | | specific period of time each day for you to work |
| readily available and easily accessible at the | | | | uninterrupted. You can still have an "open door |
| location. This ensures that you remain totally | | | | policy" and set boundaries that allow you to work |
| focused on the work at hand. Maintain the order | | | | more effectively. Be sure to let colleagues, |
| in your work area by allocating time at the end of | | | | employees, family members and even your |
| each work day to put things away properly. This | | | | clients know not to call at these designated times. |