As an entrepreneur or small business owner we are often excited about all the things we are trying to accomplish. Goals everywhere…right? While it’s great to be so excited, oftentimes this can lead to trying to do too many things at once. Have you ever spent your entire day working and look around at the end of the day wondering “What have I accomplished today?” Or you spent your day working in your business and feel like you haven’t done enough to work on your business processes and goals.
Below, you will find a few tips for getting the most out of your work day and your very valuable time.
1. Goal Setting
We all know we need goals, right? Whatever they may be, make sure they are very clear, specific and attainable. What do you wish to accomplish? The best way to do this is to take time to make measurable goals that are easy to articulate. For example: “This year I want to increase revenue by $30,000;” “I want 10 more monthly retainer clients;” “I want to delegate 10 hours of work per week to an assistant.” Having your goals clearly defined will help you stay focused.
2. Plan
Take your goals and create a plan of execution. What steps will you need to take to increase revenue or gain more clients? Write those down. What steps will you need to take to hire an assistant? Write those down. If your goal is to increase revenue by $30,000, identify five or six activities to support that objective. This might include raising your rates, engaging in more networking events, consistently writing and publishing a newsletter, being more active on social media. Do this for all your goals, and now you have your action-packed get it done list.
Bonus Tip ~ Schedule times throughout the year to revisit your goals and make any adjustments needed. As our business grows and things change, so will your goals.
3. Focus
Take your big goals and choose which pieces you wish to focus on now, next and later. Perhaps you wish to focus on multiple goals at once. It’s certainly not an impossible endeavor, but it will require planning for proper execution and ultimately success. As you create your focus list, keep in mind the time you actually have to work on these things. This will help prevent overwhelm and stress. Make sure your action plan is doable with both your work and personal obligations.
4. Prioritize
Now that you have your focus steps in place, it’s time to do the work! Take a few minutes each morning to prioritize your day. Schedule your time to meet not only your client’s and staff’s needs, but also ensure there is time each day to work toward your own goals. Have clear action steps you need to take each day to reach your goals. Make sure they are somewhere you can easily access them throughout the day. Notepad, Sticky notes, Google Calendar, or any platform you prefer. One of my favorite things is marking a task complete on my calendar!
5. Track
As you do the work, keep track of the steps you are taking, along with the progress you are making. You can use a spreadsheet, notebook or whatever method works best for you. Keeping track of your steps will not only help you stay goal-oriented, but will help show you what may or may not be working. Make any adjustments to the plan as needed and keep the momentum going. Any progress is so much better than no progress, right?
Bonus Tip ~ As business owners, oftentimes we spread ourselves too thin trying to do all the things. Sometimes you just have to say no. If you are asked to do something that doesn’t align with your business and your goals, it is ok to say no. Your time is one of your most valuable assets and should be treated as such.
Following these steps will help you know where you are and know where you are going in your business, helping you maximize your time. You will feel more focused and productive and who doesn’t love that feeling!
Need a hand creating and implementing a strategic time management plan?
We can help with that. 🙂 Schedule your free, 30 minute strategy call today!