Only do what’s necessary for your business.
One of the things I love about my clients is that they are all entrepreneurs. They’re excited about their work and they’re passionate about their ideas. They love their businesses…sometimes. And they spend a lot of time working.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that many entrepreneurs don’t always feel like they’re getting anything done, despite the long hours and hard work. They’re pretty sure they’re being inefficient. And they feel like there’s never enough time.
That’s exhausting.
The solution?
1. Get clear about what you’re trying to accomplish. Focus on the top four items on your to-do list, and finish those items completely. A leader can’t juggle more than four big goals without losing efficiency and making mistakes. Each time you circle back to a task, you waste time, and lose momentum.
Make measurable goals that are easy to articulate. For example: “By the end of Q1 I want to get one more blog posted, hire a video editor, and update the photo gallery on my website.” Or “By the end of this month, I want to book two more physical therapy clients, (even if it means taking four discovery calls per day!)” Or “By the end of next week, I want to select a summer conference to attend, and book all of my travel and dining reservations.”
2. Make a plan that supports your goal. If your goal is to get more clients quickly, identify five or six activities to support that objective. This might include developing special pricing, online advertising, an email to rebook former clients, an irresistible referral bonus, and a partnership with another health-aligned service provider.
Be deliberate about this plan. This is how you are going to spend your time.
3. Set up support systems. In order to know whether you’re carrying out your plan, it’s important to track what you’re doing. Set up a spreadsheet to track your success each week.
Does it guarantee success? No. Does it help to see what you’re actually doing so you can make mid-course corrections? Absolutely.
4. Don’t be afraid to say no. If you get a request that’s not aligned with your goal, it’s important to say no. If you have a new idea for a great–but unrelated–project, it’s equally important to say no.
For example, if your primary goal is booking more clients quickly, you have to turn down the offer to get free editorial space in your neighborhood newspaper. There isn’t time for everything. And that awesome idea you had for your next podcast episode? You’ll have to let it go to maintain focus.
Do your goal setting and planning in quiet. Be clear in your language and remove any ambiguity. Stick with it, even when you’re feeling short on time or energy.
In the end, you’ll feel more focused, and accomplish more for your business.