Eight tips for becoming an effective entrepreneur
by Natalie Sisson
In this busy day and age, time seems to go by faster than we can blink an eye. The 24/7 nature of the internet and business means we’re hungry for ways to become more streamlined and efficient. Here are eight of the best tips to help you become an efficient and effective entrepreneur
Go for goals
It’s a fact that if you don’t have goals you won’t know where you’re going. That means wasted days working on pointless activities that may seem important but are really just distractions from the real work. So ask yourself: Where do I want to be in a year? In six months? At the end of today? Use your response to this question in order to prioritise the items for the week ahead. Begin each week by determining your top three priorities, and then organise each day around them with simple to-do lists, putting items that get you closer to your goals at the top of the list. Create your lists on paper or go high-tech with tools like TeuxDeux, Google Tasks, or Toodledo.
Pick your proactive buddies
Let’s face it, two heads are better than one and having someone right there beside you to motivate you and hold you accountable is key in raising your productivity levels. Tell several friends or business partners what you plan to do and when it will be done by. Announce it publicly on your blog or on a forum. This act alone will force you to accomplish what you promised as you are a person of your word who doesn’t want to let people down or be seen as a failure. Along the same lines, you can choose an accountability partner - someone that you have checks and balances with and know that someone is counting on your part of the work. You can do the same for them in return.
Action your to-do lists
It’s one thing having to-do lists but putting them to action is where you will really become more effective. Create a simple to-do list; however, do not fill it with too many tasks, stick to three. Once planning is complete, prioritise and execute immediately. Don’t procrastinate. It’s easy to get lost in the details. Remember the Pareto Rule; focus 80 percent of your efforts on the 20 percent that gets you the results you want. Delegate the rest.
Know your limits
Stop multi-tasking entirely. We all know how ineffective this is. Shut your browsers down, close your email and look at that one task you’ve set yourself as the most important of the day – focus ruthlessly on it and get it done! The unfocused person does a million things poorly but the man, who focuses, has success. With that singular focus, the most important things get done first and things like Facebook and Twitter can be enjoyed later on.
Create the ultimate workspace
Keep a clean and neat work environment that is free from distractions. Log off AIM, Skype, and Facebook and concentrate on the tasks at hand. For every interruption you have you lose 15 minutes! Let your friends and family know to only contact you during work hours in case of emergency. Removing clutter and distractions will provide an optimal work environment which will turn out your best work.
Finish what you start
Always aim to finish what you start. Do not partially complete a project and set it aside. The likelihood is you’ll forget about it and never complete it, wasting all the time and effort you’ve already put into it. Economists call this a sunk cost. As an entrepreneur you should realise that is one of the biggest inefficiencies and one that you can avoid by sticking to your planned priorities. If you have trouble concentrating then try the Pomodoro Technique - work diligently for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. Every 4 cycles you complete, you can take a longer break.
Learn to take a break and unplug
No matter what method you use, being the most efficient and effective as possible usually comes from being well rested and taking needed breaks throughout the day. It may seem counter-intuitive to take breaks, but you actually become more efficient as a result. In addition to planning your day, plan a list of the best rejuvenation breaks you can take—good snacks, leaving your desk, 20 minutes of meditation or even jumping on a trampoline. If you get creative with your breaks you will be instantly more creative while you work. You need to stop spending hours and hours replying emails or Tweeting or Facebook-ing and get some real work done. Disconnecting the internet and switching the phone off works the best to stay focused.
Power yourself first
Start your day off with a power hour dedicated to focusing on your goals, fitness and why you are worth it. This includes 5-10 minutes of yoga when you first jump out of bed, followed by running or a gym workout to get your blood pumping. While you're doing this you can go through your visualisation of where you want you and your business to be as if it's happening now, including incantations to put you in the best possible mood and mindset for your day. Plus if you do it at the beginning of the day there’s no excuse to skip looking after your health and energy levels later on in the day.
Natalie Sisson is a Kiwi Entrepreneur and Adventurer dedicated to finding creative ways to help you run your business from anywhere. She focuses on using online tools, social media and outsourcing to create more freedom in business and adventure in life. Her blog The Suitcase Entrepreneur features articles on all aspects of running a virtual business, a wealth of resources, biz and travel tools plus a large dose of inspiration, insight and intelligence.
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