It Can Wait - How Procrastination Can Be Cured

A struggle for many who own their own businesses is to make the first step in a project or to complete the financial admin or to sort out the customer database - all tasks necessary for a successful business but not necessarily ones you wish to give up a morning for!

Luciano Passuello has written a fantastic article in which he shows how our inner-language, our self-talk, affects our attitude towards the task set before us.

“I have to finish this long, important project. It should already be done by now and I need to plow through it.”

becomes -

“I choose to start this task with a small, imperfect step. I’ll feel terrific and have plenty of time for play!”

There is a big difference between these two statements and yet the second will accomplish a task long before the first.

This article is well worth a visit if you need a method of re-energising yourself.

Click on the link here - now!

Are You Bored With Your Job? - 5 Strategies To Overcome Work Fatigue

For some people even the excitement and challenges of owning and developing their own business can become tedious. The long hours, paperwork, marketing, strategic planning and product development can become too much for some. All is not lost however as there are strategies that can be employed to prevent burn-out and the onset of "job boredom".

Here are some ideas :

1) Do it differently! It is said that variety is the spice of life so why then do we insist on always doing things the same way? Find new ways to complete old tasks and develop new systems that will enhance job satisfaction

2) Change the order! Combine tasks or do them in a different setting. Sometimes it is as simple as just choosing to order your day differently that can make a difference.

3) Take a time-out! Take short breaks throughout the day to "reboot" your brain and reinvigorate your muscles. Walk around the block or in the carpark, go out into the garden - simply put - "Get out of the office!" Scheduling regular weekends off and holiday time is also key.

4) Pass it on! Learn to delegate well. This is a learnt skill that is essential to develop as your business grows. You need to be comfortable with the fact that others can do just as well, or better, at tasks you have always done yourself.

5) Evaluate your busyness! Sometimes our lack of time is indicative of avoidance behaviour. We occupy ourselves with irrelevant tasks so that avoid working on those which are truly important. Spend some time checking your diary. If necessary keep a personal time sheet for a few weeks. Check where your time is going - you may be surprised at the result!

Stop Moaning - Sort It Out or Get Out!

Running your own business is hard work - period!

I am tired of hearing the moans of those who have taken the decision to start their own business and then discover that long hours and plain old hard work is required to make it profitable.

This post was precipitated by a conversation I overheard in an office yesterday. The gentleman concerned was on his cell-phone to a person who had cancelled an appointment and wanted to reschedule. This gentleman's words went something like this,

Do you know that I am self-employed? I can't just leave to come to a meeting. Do you know what time I worked to last night? Ten past one in the morning! Yes, that's what time I went to bed. And do you know I was up at five this morning. I haven't got time to be messed around - I'm self-employed you know.

Come on... Get a life! Business owners are not the only ones who work long hours. Self-management and better use of time is needed when you begin to live for work, not work to live.

When deciding to start your own business you need to be sure of the sacrifices required. The most successful start-ups are those that have been thoroughly thought through by the business owner.

So stop moaning - sort yourself out or get out!

Is A 4 Hour Work Week Possible - Maybe So ...

Could you change your current working reality so that instead of a 60-70 hour work week, you spent 4 hours a week working your business?

It seems that this may just be possible!

While listening to the Internet Business Mastery podcast I was introduced to the concept of a Four Hour Work Week. This was put forward by Tim Ferris who has made this his lifestyle and heads up a very successful business. Does this seem impossible to you? It certainly did to me. However take a look at these case studies of people who have implemented a reduced hour work week posted on YouTube. See this post on eSoup to read another account of how a reduced hour work week has changed the author's life.

The website of Tim Ferris, author of The Four Hour Work Week, espouses the idea of "outsourcing your life". The site gives great insight into this concept and is well worth a visit. There are also chapter samples available to read to get an idea of what Tim's book is about. The book has been a New York Times bestseller and is based on a series of controversial lectures at Princeton University.

It is clear though that embarking on the journey towards chronological freedom entails risk taking, making sacrifices initially and the willingness to back yourself to win. That all seems perfectly acceptable to me - short term sacrifice, long term gain. Isn't that a principle of life? It seems that all successful people understand that.

I must confess that I have not read this book but having heard about it, listened to the testimonies around it and having explored the website, I am now dead keen to go out and purchase it!

Once I have read the book I will post my review. If you've already read it, please send me a review to publish as well.

If you know of any South Africans who utilise this type of work lifestyle, please do let me know. I would love to feature them (interview them) for this blog.

To find out more about the book or to purchase your own copy, please click on the cover below.

Where Did My Time Go?

Working at home provides many benefits but at the same time allows one to fall into the trap of time-mismanagement. It becomes very easy to say, "I'll do it later after I've watched TV or had coffee or read this chapter in my book." and so on.

We have all heard it said that time is our most valuable commodity. If this is so, how do we spend it? Are we being wise in our time allocations? Does our family see enough of us at home away from the home-office?

Take some time today to check your priorities. Our allocation of time is often a reflection of our priorities! Use this Time Tabulator to see visually what is happening with your time. If necessary keep a time diary for a week to see where your time is going.

The world will continue to rush around us. Why not be the calm place in the storm? Be strategic about how you allocate time to the demands of work, family and down-time for yourself. Invest in a daily planner and use it daily. Use time-management software or Post-It notes - whatever you need to make a system work, do it and stick to it.

GetMoreDone.com has this list of Top 10 Time Tamers - it makes for excellent reading :

1) Write down your long-term goals. Use the SMART formula; make them Specific, Measurable, Appropriate, Realistic and Time-bound.


2) Every day, divide your tasks into A, B and C priorities. Always start with a high priority "A" task, even if you can only accomplish a small part of it.


3) Block off time for activities that are important. Make an appointment with yourself, and don’t let anyone schedule anything for the time you’ve put aside.


4) Stop spending time on trivia. You don't need a new voice mail message every day. Don't spend hours preparing a high tech presentation when a good conversation will suffice. And stop fussing over routine administrative tasks. Delegate or automate them.


5) Have the courage to say no. Don't try to please others all the time. Create personal policies that make it easy to say no and stick to your plan.


6) Always start meetings on time. Don't punish those who show up on time and reward those who are late. Do something however minor, but get started.


7) Slow down. Productivity isn't about going fast. It's about doing the right things. Stop rushing around, driving too fast and getting upset at things you can't control. A couple of minutes gained aren't worth the added stress.


8) Avoid procrastination by completing unpleasant tasks first. The tough stuff usually turns out to be not so bad. Break complex tasks into easy pieces and give yourself a reward for getting something done.


9) Don't be a slave to technology. Communication devices are simply adding more and more ways to be out of touch with each other. Simplify your life and leave your phone at home. Plan for people to reach you some of the time, not all of the time.


10) Create time for balance in your life. Set aside time for family, fitness, social, educational and spiritual needs. Plan for balance the way you plan for work.