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) as if it were one of their children. 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 feel like there’s never enough time.
And that’s exhausting.
The antidote?
Be clear about what you’re trying to accomplish
I see clients every day who are heading in 15 directions all at once. They jump from one thing to the next and back without any clear destination, always chasing the next shiny object.
The best way to do this is to take time to make measurable goals that are easy to articulate.
For example:
“In 2024 I want to increase revenue by $30,000;”
“I want 10 more monthly retainer clients in quarter 1 2024;”
“In December, I want to delegate 10 hours of work per week to an assistant. ”
Make a plan that supports your goal
If your goal is to increase revenue by $30,000, identify five or six activities to support that goal. This might include raising prices, additional public speaking, attending more networking events, writing a newsletter, publishing on LinkedIn, etc.
Be deliberate about this. This is how you are going to spend your time.
Be clear about what you’re trying to accomplish
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Set up support systems
In order to know whether you’re carrying out your plan, it’s important to track what you’re doing.
Part of my plan to increase revenue next year is to attend at least one networking event a month, meet with one new person every week, publish my newsletter every other week and teach four mini courses.
There’s no way I could track my progress in my head, so I use an excel spreadsheet to track my success each week.
Am I flawless in my execution?
No.
But it helps to see what I’m actually doing and to see where I can make improvements.
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 bright idea that’s also not aligned with your goal (no matter how bright) it’s equally important to say no.
For instance, in my strategy to boost revenue next year, I plan to offer mini-courses, but with specific limits.
I do not plan to create an entire course library or conduct workshops lasting more than two hours. Getting sidetracked with other ideas, like building an extensive course library, or a very long course, is draining and hinders progress.
When setting goals and planning, do it in a quiet space separate from your day-to-day activities. Use clear language, avoid ambiguity, and stick to your plan even when low on time or energy. Allocate time to regularly review and update your goals.
In the end, you’ll feel more focused, get more done and enjoy your business a lot more than you thought you could.
