You Better Get Control Of It
Time is your best friend
or your worst enemy when building a business
As business owners, we do not have someone looking over our shoulders telling us what we need to do and when. That can destroy our business if we do not take control of our time. I know that for a fact because back in 2001 when I went full-time on the Internet my biggest struggle was staying focused on what needed to done.
There are so many distractions, checking emails, social media, interesting articles, messages from friends, new programs etc., etc. It was easy for me to start something and end up not finishing it. Even when I had the best intentions. First thing I knew the day was over and I did not do what I needed to do.
So here a few things I learned that might help no matter if you are doing this part time or full time.
- The day before decide what you are going to do the next day and write it down. Have a planning session before you quit working each day where you plan out the next days work.
- Decide which of the task is the most important and do it first
- Always do something each day that has the potential to make you money. Post and ad, write content, follow up on leads, do something that can make you money every day. That is where most people miss the boat they get busy doing busy work but not what makes them money.
Do not worry about doing everything perfect just do something.
Once I have decided I am going to do something, then I decide how long I will work on it. Say for instance, I am going to open emails and respond to the ones that need responses for the next hour, I am going to do the training here in WA for the next hour, I am going to write content for the next hour, I am going to work on my website for the next hour. Whatever it is I put a time limit on how long I am going to work on it and stick to it.
Then I set an alarm on a timer one I have on my desk. You can use on on your computer, your phone or whatever as long as you use something to remind you time is up move on to the next task.
Then stick to the time. Do not do anything else but the task before you for the time you allowed.
This is the one thing that took be from making small change, $100 to $500 a month on a good month, to making a steady 4 to 5 figure income each month on the Internet.
When people ask one thing I did that made a difference in what I made this is what I tell them. This little cheap timer drastically changed my income. Deciding what I needed to do, how long I was going to work on it and sticking to it changed my income.
No matter how much time we have each week to work on our business, there is daily task that we need to do. Like learning something better or new each day we work.
On the next blog post, I will let you see what my schedule looks like each day. I cannot tell you what you need to do to succeed, but I can share with you what I have done to succeed.
Talk Soon
Bo Tipton
Recent Comments
82
With the advent of the Alexa and Google setting a timer should be easy. I was using my Alexa to remember to check on food that was cooking. Alexa is next to my desk and I can hear it when it goes off. The timer in the kitchen works, but I may not always hear it or I may want just a few more minutes to finish whatever I am working on. It is ok to let the timer go, but the husband does't really want to hear it.
With Bo's tip on (pun!) timers, I can now set Alexa to time me on my work schedule. I won't keep looking at my watch. Plus, I usually forget when I started.
Distractions are a very real issue for me. I think I may have ADHD. I feel I work better doing 20 things at once, but then nothing gets completed. Setting a timer will help me focus. I WILL do it!
Thanks Bo, seems like it's easy to set one up. Following it to a T is gonna the tricky part for at least the first month.
You mention doing the most important thing first, but I have figure out that my best time to work is a couple hours into the day.
I assume that you would suggest I make that number one and arrange the schedule before and after it accordingly?
Bo -- are you seriously making 4 to 5 figures a MONTH...? I am sure you had the luxury of not having to work while you set up this business...?
I am SO tired of working 9 to 5, I can't even tell you how miserable I am. Is it possible to get to that level even with working full-time? I suppose I will have to get up very early to work on my site, and also work in the evenings --
PLEASE tell me this is possible...!!!! I want this more than anything...!!!!!!
/a.
There are several success stories on here just type success stories in the search bar. And yes you can just keep working at it.
Yes thank you and I’ve read them. I just like to hear it “in person” which somehow lends more credibility — silly, I know. Thanks!
I admit, that is my biggest problem. I get distracted with one thing or problem and I want to see it fixed completely before I move on. But I also get distracted on the way and end up not finishing the first task or any of the other.
This is a great idea. I need to start setting up a schedule and keep to it.
Thanks Bo
The problem for me too, is that I get very distracted, and also have to work full time. So my day is filled with distractions! Good luck to you!
good luck to you too. I sat down to write down everything I wanted to do... I have 2 pages full. I have many ideas on post, that fills a whole page. Now prioritize ..
Yes, I found that I stay much more focused if the eggtimer is audibly ticking away next to me, since it is a constant reminder that I am chasing that clock. I need to implement the part of deciding the evening before what is the next day's tasks. Thanks for sharing Bo!
Great! Although i knew what I'm going to do daily, but I still schedule out every tasks in my google calendar as a guide and reminder. Sometime we tends to mess up things when we're busy or when all sort of things come at once. Reference back to your calendar will help to keep align and take control.
Yes it does so when we draw the blank on the what's next question we have something to look at.
Hello, I found your article absolutely life-saving finantially. I have been at this WA program since last November. My biggest excuse was not having enough time.
The first thing I did was cancel my NetFlix subscription. TV will steal your life away if you allow it.
As Bob Newhart would say, Stop It! And so I did.
My next excuse was I was too tired after work, so, I stopped it. I am fortunate in that area to be able to leave my job. I feel so great now, It's awesome.
Please pay off all your bills and put some money in savings before you do this.
My last Stop it was negativity. I use a gratitude journal for this and turned my grumpy old self around. You can't be grumpy and productive at the same time, so I switched.
I lead a discussion today on this topic and it was unbelievably positive. I loved it.
Yes, I agree, 100%, "You Better Get Control Of It." If you can't get some help getting control. I did it you can too.
To Success, Keith K Wilhelm
Wow Keith great story. I'm tired after work, feeling negative and not sure how to snap out of it. I don't want to work full time anymore and as the sole provider for myself, my college-aged son, and my home, I can't leave my job. How can I make this work...??!!
Thank You Botipton. I really needed to see this. I have been a worker all my life so this internet business is new for me and the distractions are numerous with exactly what you shared. I have been either busy making no money or busy getting nothing toward my goal of making more $$$$$. I'm considering printing this and post it around my house. I really want to get some momentum with this web business. It's nice to connect with people doing this and sharing....Send intentions for my success....Thanks.
Thank you botipton....I needed to see this cause this is exactly what I have been doing, being busy and not really making any $$$$$. I may even print this out and post it to keep me on task. Going to make an effort to complete this internet business . Send out intention for my success!! Thanks
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There is a story in Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich" where one of the captains of industry like J.P. Morgan or someone (I'd have to go back and look to get the exact person) was approached as asked how much he would pay for something that would improve his life and be worth millions of dollars (I'm paraphrasing from memory here so pls don't hold me to the details).
This part you can hold me to. The secret was before going to bed at night write down the 5 things that you must accomplish tomorrow. Whatever you don't accomplish from that list goes on the top of the next day's top 5 thing to do list and so on.
The story ends with how well this worked and was worth a lot more than was paid for it.