Hi everyone,
Time Management.
I have often been asked, “What’s the #1 piece of advice you can offer with regards to maximizing the time you have available during the day?”
We all struggle with how to get the most out of our time, especially when many of us are doing this part time. This is something that I’ve struggled with myself on and off over the years in doing business online.
When running a business, you have tasks that you need to accomplish, some are boring, mundane tasks that we might not LIKE to do, but we have to do them nonetheless. We also have tasks that we do that are specifically geared towards generating new business and new income.
Now.. the typical way to think is that we want to get the “boring” stuff out of the way so we can concentrate on the stuff that makes us money.
That used to be the way I thought about it but it turns out I had everything backwards.
Our first instinct when we start our day is to open our email, deal with that. Then open our Skype, deal with those messages. Then deal with any issues that your team is dealing with. Check voicemail and see if there are reports of any more issues that we need to deal with…
By that time, we’re exhausted and are all set to have lunch.
Then, we get back to work after lunch and try and do something that’s actually productive for our business. Unfortunately our brain is telling us that we’ve had enough, and trying to come up with new ideas just isn’t happening for you.
That’s exaclty what was happening to me. After dealing with the boring stuff, I had a hard time doing anything that required being creative. Blogging, programming, design work, ad copy, articles, video ideas… I was having to FORCE myself to be creative, which, as we know, is not the best way to jumpstart our creativity. It’s incredibly frustrating.
So I switched things up, and here’s what I do now..
My first tasks when I start my day are things that are focused on creating income and building my business. Simple as that. The morning is when my brain is ‘fresh’ (after my coffee of course), and that’s when the new ideas flow much more easily. That’s when all the ‘good stuff’ happens.
Then I leave my boring stuff until towards the end of my day. It doesn’t take creativity to do the mundane tasks that come with running a business, you just have to do them, very little ‘brains’ involved. Save those for later.
So, in closing..
My #1 tip for time management?
Do the things that make you money FIRST. Save the rest for later.
.. and my #1 tip for organizing your daily tasks?
Use your GlobalNPN TomorrowList in your backoffice. It keeps me totally on task and up to date. Use it. It’s in your NPN backoffice and you can also access it on your smartphone.
That’s it for now.
Have a great day.
– Geoff Stephen.
Hi Geoff,
Thanks for the advice.
I am myself in Network Markting for over 7 years now but have nothing to show.
The number 1 reason as I have realized today by reading your blog is that I do tedious and least monetising \”work\” first and think alot, but DO LESS!!!
And there are tons of marketers and affiliates who become frustrated like I did.
Thanks alot Geoff…
Hi.
I’m glad to help!
– Geoff.
You are so right Geoff. I realised that surfing for hours was numbing my brain, now I am trying to do the creative stuff and then finish off surfing before going to bed.
Trouble is I still have to wind myself back up after a day at the office.
I’ve got some great books on how to beat procrastination (if I could only get round to reading them! lol)
Haha, yes I know what you mean.
Hi Jeff,
Great post and yes you are correct. Important things first. When you have a fresh mind
Sara
Well I suppose all the things we do are important. It’s more about focusing on the productive tasks first.
I agree Geoff, I too got it all backwards sometimes…Great advice! Headed over to the TomorrowList.
Excellent! It works well for me..
Hi Geoff.
My bigest problem was and or is still Info Over Load. I would get into all the emails I get and try to take a look at every link sent to me.
What a waste of time.
Now I consentrat on things that workrd in the past.
Use the means
and then turn to new things.
Thank You Geoff
Great post we all have to have time management, Like the idea about doing the money making projects first and all the other stuff later
Have a Great Weekend
Sharon
I have done both but ideally sending email or what makes $$$ should come before surfing.
Geoff,
Man what a revelation! Totally see how that one tweek in methodology can change your business and some more digits in the bank account.
Thanks for sharing,
Roger Holmes
Thanks for the advice Geoff. That’s the way I have been doing things and now I know why I am not succeeding.
Niall
Hey Geoff:
What you said is true, very true.
I know this, and lots of other people know this, as well!!
And these are my problems and issues:
Although we know this, although I know this … it seems very hard and difficult to change the habit.
I have been trying to do that for almost 2 years now, without any visible positive results. I kept doing doing the OLD rut again and again!!
BUT – yes – we have to force ourselves in doing just that … the priorities should be:
First Things, First – and the first things are doing just those things, all activities, which will bring in money!!
Just that and no other distracting activities – as simple as that!!
Okay, I hope I can bend it now! With the use of the NPN system (??) ….
I will update you on this one!
Have a great day,
Best and to your success,
Pudjo.
Great tips; I find myself doing things in reverse order and sometimes it is because I don’t fully understand how to do a certain task.
I agree Geoff. I have found over the years, that I have my better ideas in the morning, especially when taking my wife to work and then heading back home. Seems all 5 wheels are turning in unison at that time-:)
This did surprise me though, since I have consider myself a very Non-morning person-:).
Thanks for bringing this to my awareness again.
John
John, a LOT of my ideas happen when I’m driving also.
I always take some way of recording them with me so I can keep them until I get back to the office.
What your saying is exactly what I have heard several other places yet I still struggle to implement this simple concept.
I’ll give it another shot this week. Thanks Geoff.
Absolutely true Geoff, but I do find my ‘Inbox’ calling me, even when I try to ignore it and get on
with some ‘proper’ work lol
Sound advice as usual.
Sue Collier
Sue, me too.
I just turn off email and any other distractions until I’m ready to deal with them. They will wait.
Thanks Geoff! You always have a wealth of information for your subscribers. What you say makes sense, but none the less I would count this comment I am sending while drinking my morning coffee, as later in the day things and not for money things. LOL Thanks again for all you do!
Well, we all work differently and have our own ways of accomplishing what we need to accomplish. Whatever works for you is the right thing to do.
Good morning Geoff,
You are correct the morning is the perfect time to take care of important business. With fresh mind.
Thank you for your advice Geoff
Sara Pozzobon
I suppose this is the wrong avenue, but I have been stomped by AP to pay my monthly fee, as I wanted to switch to CC. Could you please tell me how I can switch from AP to a CC to pay my monthly fee. My ID is 134983
Thanks for helping, Bertold