Are any of these statements true for you?
- “I start a lot of things but often don’t complete them.”
- “I open my email and before I know it half the day is gone!”
- “My schedule is so full there’s no time to develop my business.”
- “I work hard but not on what will positively impact my success.”
- “I end many days feeling guilty about what I did not accomplish.”
If so, you’re in good company. I hear these frustrations from just about every solo-entrepreneur I know. What you need are systems to keep your days flowing happily along.
Six Time Blocking Steps
Use this time-blocking process to get more done and have more fun in your business:
1. Spend 30 minutes each day planning.
Set a time slot at the end of each day to plan for the next. Choose 1- 3 high pay off activities to complete early in the day, so you make significant progress every day. Remember, a high pay off activity brings you closer to achieving your top revenue and developmental goals.
2. Make your calendar your daily guide.
Most people only put appointments and birthdays on their calendar. Try this — put all of your business tasks and timed goals on it as well. Time management guru David Allen says: “Anything you consider unfinished in any way must be captured in a trusted system outside your mind, or what I call a collection bucket, that you know you’ll come back to regularly and sort through.”
Whatever goes on your calendar is a sacred agreement with yourself. Sure, sometimes you’ll need more time or realize that there are more pieces to a project than you thought, so go ahead and move a few things ahead. The key is to review your open projects regularly and keep them moving forward. When you get into a good rhythm your calendar becomes an ally for your success.
3. Set specific days for coaching and times slots for clients.
In my practice, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are clients days. Two sessions before lunch and two after is a good pattern. Each client has their own dedicated time slot so that it’s easy to manage my schedule. When you have a full practice, this system makes it easy to stay on track. Why not start it now so that you’re set up for success?
If you have an open slot, imagine your ideal client is on their way and use the time for bite size marketing tasks to attract that client.
4. Block out several hours each week for project development.
The alpha waves are flowing in the morning — so that’s often the best time for writing articles and creating marketing campaigns, designing new products and services. Turn that dream for another revenue stream into reality!
5. Have set times to respond to emails.
Tim Ferris, in the 4 Hour Work Week, suggests checking emails only at noon and 4:00pm. Get your high pay off actions done first, and only then open your email. If you let email get the best of you, this one is for you. And have a standard of getting everything out of your court and out of your inbox every day or at least every week.
6. Set time blocks for Finance, Writing and Marketing
- Financial Focus Time
This is where you update your revenue and expense projections, pay bills, and input your bookkeeping into Quick Books. Of course, you could outsource most of this. But do stay in touch with your finances — it’s a prosperity principle.
- Wildly Creative Writing Time
If you publish an ezine or re-purpose articles into blogs and directories, a regular writing habit is critical. Ezines only work for you if they are punctual like a train.
- Magnetic Marketing Time
Plan your work and work your plan. If you market continuously and consistently, you will have more clients than you need. Plan a set of well-leveraged, repetitive approaches, some of which are high touch (voice to voice) and some that are automated internet processes. Add in some of your own products and you have the Magic Marketing Suite!
Do some of these things seem like drudgery to you? Reframe your thoughts about them. Make each aspect of your business a friend and ally. A smart colleague of mine, changed up to a fun attitude by giving her time blocks upbeat names like the ones above.
Now, start using this time blocking process and watch yourself accomplish more than you thought possible week after week!
Get More Done and Have More Fun in Your Business - To learn more about this author, visit Rhonda Hess's Website.
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Leanne Hoagland Smith
Are you or your business where you want to be? Are you facing constant struggles in business or life in general? Would you like to "unlock" those obstacles keeping you from greater business or personal success? As your results partner, we can work together to unlock those desired results by achieving tomorrow's solutions today. Let’s use your strengths for real change through proven and affordable solutions where the real problems are identified. Are you seeking loyal customers, great attitudes, increased sales, improved profitability or just some sleep filled nights? Then we should talk because my clients have experienced exactly those types of results. Learn more about customer loyalty at http://www.processspec ialist.com/customer-loyalty.htm Give me a call 219.759.5601 for a free strategy session. I look forward to speaking with you. P.S. If you are seeking a motivational speaker, sales trainer or small business expert that will leave your audience smiling and remembering, please feel free to contact me at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland Smith's Website |
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Rhonda Hess
(Visit Rhonda's Website)
Rhonda Hess is Founder of Prosperous
Coach™, a membership community with tiered
levels of service starting at $24.95 per
month, that walks professional coaches
step by step to coaching business success
from startup to prosperity. For ten years
Rhonda has helped entrepreneurial coaches
to success. As senior trainer for Coach
Training Alliance, Rhonda co-authored the
Coach Training Accelerator, a best selling
self study program and the curriculum for
the Certified Coach Program. Her ebook, Working Websites for
Coaches, is the single best resource
available to help coaches write content
that pre-qualifies ideal clients. Find out
more at Prosperous Coach.
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