So often we get overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks that have to be done every week to keep our business up and running. But, the question you need to ask your self is, “Is what I am doing the best use of my time?”
This question is my mantra, and I ask myself this throughout the day to make sure that my actions are on track with my values and goals. But, how do you know if it’s the best use of your time?
Do this little activity:
First, write down everything you do for your business every week. If you need to track it for a week, then do this. Your list might include: checking email, returning phone calls, prospecting, business presentations, meetings, etc. Give yourself a chance to remember as much as possible for a typical week in your business.
Next, look at this list and pick out the top 3 tasks that make you the most money. For example, this might be: prospecting, recruit follow up and coaching your team.
Then, take a look at what’s left. What can be delegated or even eliminated all the way? I was writing a customer newsletter that I emailed out to preferred customers a few times a month. This was something that I was able to delegate to a newsletter writing service specific for my company, and therefore eliminate it from my task list.
How about looking at alternatives? College students or high school students make great admin type of workers, and can do basics like data entry, making packets, etc. I hired a gal from my neighborhood to put together all of my invitations for my shows when I was in my direct sales company.
Or, if your children are old enough, hire them. Check with your tax advisor, but you can often get a deduction for paying your children too (there are some rules here, so check with someone who knows!).
Or better yet, eliminate it! At one point in my business with small children, I knew that something had to be eliminated. And, although I am a big fan of doing customer care calls for my customers, I was booked solid and had regular recruit leads, and so I felt that I could eliminate customer care calls without a drop in business. (Now, if I had been desperate for bookings, I would have continued to do them, since they are a great source of future business.)
So, my challenge to you is to focus on the 3 things that you picked out that generate the most income for you, and therefore have the biggest impact, and see what else can be eliminated, delegated or simplified to save you time.
To your success,
Dr. Laura
P.S. You might want to pick up my FREE CD: 7 Secrets to Saving 24 Hours of Time Every Week or my FREE CD: 7 Simple Secrets to Creating a Wildly Successful Direct Sales Business
