CC’s Top 5 Business Strategies For Entrepreneurs To Get It Done Now
By Christine Cibula, M.S.
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Ever feel like you’ve got so much on your plate that you aren’t sure where to begin? That is the plight of the Enlightened Entrepreneur. Tons of ideas you want to implement and a mile long list of things to do. But here’s the clincher. If you don’t reel it in and get things done, then your business is going to suffer. So let’s take a look at CC’s Top 5 Business Strategies For Entrepreneurs To Get It Done Now…
1. Eat That Frog! Besides being a wonderful book by Brian Tracy, the guidance within those pages helped me to personally gain momentum in my business. Here’s how it works. Before you shut down your office for the day, plan your list of action items for the next day. Take a look at your list and put a star next to the one action item that seems like it is the hardest one or the biggest hurdle for the coming day. When you arrive at your desk the next morning, tackle it right away. It is a little intense at first, kind of like ripping off a band-aid quickly. It stings for a minute and then there is this tremendous rush of RELIEF that sets in and this push of adrenaline because you’re so thankful it is over! That gives you momentum to tackle the rest of the items on your list (hardest to easiest) and you’ll lose emotional weight as the day progresses. By the end of the day you’ll be flying high. Your performance will skyrocket!
2. Get Your Feet Wet & Then Your Ankles… If you are stuck, and I mean, really stuck and the idea of starting with your hardest things to do makes you want to go back to bed and pull the covers over your head, I recommend a different strategy. This is a gentle approach. Start with least intimidating item on your list to get going. This is a little trick I do with myself for housework. This is a great strategy for cleaning up your office or organizing. Decide to do one small thing like clear off your immediate workspace. Then later tackle that small pile of papers. Maybe hit the shredder for a 10-minute break. Getting rid of clutter and letting go of things that no longer serve you open up the energy to let more good things flow to you.
3. BRAIN DUMP! If nothing is getting done, I love this technique. Sit down with a huge yellow legal pad and do a complete “BRAIN DUMP” where you write out everything that is nagging at you. It looks like this… Submit Proposal. Replace Light in Closet. Finish Client Project. Dog Bath. Write Blog Entry. Wash Linens. Respond to Client Queries. Get Out Ezine. Meet with VA Team. Pick Up Birthday Card and Gift. Check Web Stats. Call Grandma. Finish Info Product. Pick Up Dry Cleaning. Handwritten Note to JV Partner. Keep your master list. Then group items of a similar nature BUSINESS, FAMILY & FRIENDS, HOUSEWORK and put into your day planner. When you complete items remember to give yourself the gratification of checking it off your list.
4. Just Do It! Do you find some high priority things are getting passed over consistently, because you are waiting to have the right moment to do them? These are typically high personal priority items that you’ll find yourself exclaiming, “I forgot AGAIN!” For me it is usually something I want to set aside time to do so that I can relax and enjoy the activity, like calling Grandma. If so, then next time you think about it, just do it. I mean, literally in the moment without trying to pick the perfect time when she’ll be by the phone. Rather than postponing, do a messy imperfect job of it, but get that need met. Put her on speed dial in your cell phone and call her from the road. Speaking of, I just picked up the phone and called Grandma. Now time to get back to work!
5. Stop Spinning In Inertia – Meaning – Do ONE THING To Completion. How boring right? Stay focused on ONE thing? That feels like a bit of a straight jacket, doesn’t it? But it works! Most entrepreneurs have at least three high priority items and work on them simultaneously. If each item individually should take about a week to complete, but you are working on them at the same time you could easily take, “ABC…ABC…A!” which translates into 7 weeks before you finish one item. And honestly, how many entrepreneurs do you know who only have 3 high priority projects at one time? Conversely, if you do one thing AAA (week one) BBB (week two) CCC (week three) you will have 3 items completed in 3 weeks. It makes a case for why multitasking can often lead to inertia in business and why doing less means achieving more. Choose ONE high priority item and do it until it is finished!
