Here are five tips to improve your productivity As a small business owner, it is important to get tasks done as efficiently as possible. Time is money after all. Entrepreneurs who work alone face additional challenges in avoiding distractions.  Here are 5 tips to increase your productivity. 

1. Get up Early

Getting up between 5 am and 6 am gives you a tremendous head start on the day. I find the early morning to be the most peaceful and productive time of day. It is the perfect time to meditate, exercise or begin working. Around 7 am, I start getting my son ready for school. I head to the gym after dropping him and I am back home by 9 am ready to get back to work. 

2. Organization – Work from a to-do list

The list shouldn’t contain 20 tasks. I would suggest 4 or 5 items top. Ideally, you have one big task and 3 or 4 minor supporting tasks. The big task is anything that moves you closer to your objectives. You have to identify tasks that measurably meet objectives versus busy work. What tasks generate more leads, customers …revenue? If you find the same tasks on your list day after day, get rid of them altogether. Only add them back when they become a big task and a must do. The Pareto Principle also-known-as the 80/20 rule states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your activities. The number one priority for small business owners and entrepreneurs is to identify that 20% and work on those activities 80% of the time. 

“Struggling business owners will spend time to save money, whereas successful business owners will spend money to save time.”

Allan Dib, Author of the One Page Marketing Plan

3. Get Help

 There is a great quote in the One Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib, “Struggling business owners will spend time to save money, whereas successful business owners will spend money to save time. Why is that an important distinction? Because you can always get more money but you can never get more time.” Is it really worth spending hours learning a software program to complete a task one time when an expert can do it in 15 minutes? Create a team by using freelancers or other business support services. 

4. Accountability Network

Who holds you accountable when you drop the ball? Having a mentor or a network of family and friends that will give you honest feedback is important. We all get distracted from time to time. Managing a business is hard work. Your network of support can help you through tough times. Lastly, don’t be afraid to share your goals. We are often tempted to keep our goals secret because we don’t want anyone to know if we fail. In actuality, we are sabotaging ourselves, we can’t get help if no one knows. 

5. Rest & Relaxation

 I can’t stress the importance of rest enough. It is difficult to be at your best when you are exhausted. When I first started my business, I often worked until midnight. I confused working long hours with getting more done. In actuality, too much time was spent analyzing the best way to complete a task as opposed to just doing it. There are very few mistakes that can’t be corrected. So don’t be afraid to make mistakes.  

Lastly, don’t spend the time trying to recreate the wheel. If you can learn from someone else, do it. Imitate then innovate. Please subscribe to our newsletter for more tips and special offers designed to move your business forward. Additionally, check out our solutions page for ways we can assist you.