| Does it seem like you have more tasks to do | | | | you manage your day by prioritizing and doing the |
| than hours in which to do them? Don't feel | | | | most important things first, you can gain more |
| alone. Lack of time is a problem most small | | | | control. (See the next point for the one exception |
| business owners have all faced at one time or the | | | | to this rule.) Don't allow yourself to be pulled |
| other. This article gives you 10 business time | | | | from one thing to the other. |
| savers that will put more time back into your | | | | Don't Procrastinate |
| day, and more money to your bottom line. If | | | | While we're on the subject of prioritizing, let's talk |
| there's one thing most small business owners | | | | about procrastination. It's so easy to put things |
| never have enough of (besides money), it's | | | | off that we don't want to do. Pretty soon, |
| time. With so many tasks needing to be done, | | | | those things niggle at us until they become |
| it's nearly impossible to get everything | | | | seemingly insurmountable. Procrastination begets |
| accomplished and have enough time for the other | | | | procrastination. If you're not careful, you could |
| areas of your life. These business time savers | | | | become known as someone who can't get things |
| should help you bring order to your day and more | | | | done, or someone who doesn't keep promises. |
| quality to your life. | | | | Either is bad. Here's the one thing I do and |
| Order Online | | | | encourage others to do to beat procrastination: |
| When you order your office supplies, equipment, | | | | Do that which you don't want to do most, first. |
| furnishings, etc., online, not only can you save | | | | You get it out of the way, you get to feel good |
| time, but often you can even save money. | | | | about yourself, and you stop thinking of yourself |
| Online office supply stores like and often have | | | | as a procrastinator. |
| great sales, and free shipping. Plus, you'll save | | | | Break it Down |
| tons of time and gas money not running around | | | | When you have a large task in front of you, the |
| town. | | | | best thing you can do is to break it down into |
| Delivery Services | | | | manageable steps. Accomplish the first step, |
| Don't even think about getting in a car and making | | | | move onto the next. Get the next step done, |
| a delivery yourself. Instead, open an account | | | | move on to the third. And so on. Soon it will |
| with a delivery service. They will pick up and | | | | be mission accomplished. |
| deliver almost anything to almost anywhere. | | | | Learn to Delegate |
| Once you reach a certain volume, you might | | | | One of the hardest things for small business |
| want to consider hiring a "runner" and buying a | | | | owners to do is to give up control to someone |
| gas sipper car for your delivery person to drive. | | | | else. But with only so many hours in the day, |
| You will have to run the numbers to seen when | | | | getting everything done that's necessary to grow |
| and if that makes sense. One other note about | | | | a business is nearly impossible. Which is why it's |
| delivery services...check the regular places where | | | | important to delegate. Start by dividing your |
| you do business (i.e. dry cleaners, copy shop, | | | | tasks into those which you specifically have to do, |
| restaurants, pharmacies, et al) to see if they | | | | and those which you can give to someone else. |
| offer pick up and delivery. | | | | If you can give it away, do so. |
| Buy in Bulk | | | | Block Out Time |
| There are many items that you can buy in bulk | | | | In order to get tasks done that require focus, try |
| at warehouse stores like Sam's and Costco that | | | | blocking out chunks of time. For instance, if you |
| will save you time and money. Paper towels, | | | | need to brainstorm ways to increase sales, put |
| toilet paper, copy paper, coffee, coffee | | | | the time on your calendar, and when the time |
| filters...stock up and avoid multiple trips. | | | | rolls around, don't answer emails or your phone |
| Write Things Down | | | | until the allotted time is up. Focus on the task at |
| I keep a "To Do / Daily Goals" list in a Word | | | | hand without distraction. I block chunks of time |
| document on my computer desktop that I update | | | | on a daily basis. Since I am most creative in the |
| every day before I shut down shop. I have it | | | | mornings, I use those hours to write and |
| divided into daily tasks and weekly tasks. As I | | | | brainstorm. Afternoons are for emails, meetings, |
| accomplish a task from my daily list, I just delete | | | | and the business end of my businesses. I long |
| it. Same with the weekly section. I would | | | | ago structured my life around my natural |
| recommend keeping some type of similar list | | | | biorhythms as much as possible, and make |
| somewhere (either on your computer, a | | | | changes the exceptions, not the rule. |
| Day-Timer, a hand-held computer, or just | | | | Strive For Balance |
| handwritten) and check it first thing in the | | | | When you're on your deathbed, I guarantee you |
| morning, and as needed during the day. Before | | | | won't be wishing you'd spent more time at |
| you leave for home, update your list so it will be | | | | work. To be the most productive you can be, |
| ready for you first thing the next morning. I | | | | you need be able to focus. And to focus, you |
| know, I know...some people just don't like keeping | | | | need to have balance in all areas of your life. So |
| lists. I used to be one of them. However, once | | | | while you're building business, don't forget the |
| I started, I found my productivity skyrocket! It | | | | other important things in your life like family, |
| was easier for me to focus on the tasks at hand, | | | | friends, health, and faith. There will be times |
| and I was less likely to become distracted. If | | | | when one area occupies more attention, but |
| you've never kept a to-do, I would strongly | | | | strive to always bring things back into balance. |
| recommend you start doing so. | | | | Making the most of your time at work will let you |
| Control Your Day | | | | not only accomplish more, but to do so with |
| Don't let your time get away from you. There | | | | more energy and enthusiasm. |
| will always be distractions and emergencies, but if | | | | (c) Copyright 2008, All rights reserved. |