Post by cathyjelady on Mar 15, 2007 16:06:25 GMT -5
I receive a newsletter from the "Idea Lady" and she has such wonderful ideas, I just had to share this one with everyone.
From the Idea Lady
Making Time for Marketing
************ ********* *********
*From the Idea Lady*
Lately I have been addressing a lot of issues related to
getting things done. The other day, someone was telling me
how busy she has been and all that she has been doing. Her
list of activities certainly made it sound as though she is
busy, but she doesn't seem to be productive. There is a big
difference.
Although we can not be productive every moment, being aware
of the difference between being busy and being productive
can make you more effective and help you get more done. Your
defination of productive may not be the same as mine, but I
think I am being productive when my actions (1) generate
income or (2) directly relate to reaching a goal.
There will be lots of things you have to do that do not fit
that definition. The idea is to reduce the time you spend on
non-productive "busy-work" and increase the time you spend
being productive.
One of the best ways to do this is to eliminate the things
you do that make you feel busy but do not really serve a
purpose. Do you spend four hours comparing prices online so
you can save $20 on a purchase?
Don't create drama in your life either. Letting everything go
until the last possible minute (or a little beyond) creates
stress. And having to dump everything else and get something
overnighted to meet a deadline disrupts your workflow. Plan
ahead.
Can you streamline tasks to get them done more efficiently?
Set up online banking and pay all of your bills at once. It
only takes a few minutes, and you can get back to doing what
is important.
Do you have a to-do list? Take a look at what is on your list
for today. How many things are "busy-work" and how many will
help you to be more successful? Make an effort to accomplish
something productive every day. It will not only make you
more successful, you will probably find your work more
satisfying, too.
Cathy
************ ********* *********
*Making Time for Marketing*
There are never enough hours in the day to do everything we
want to do, or even everything we think we need to do. There
is a saying that really sums this up: We make time for what
is important, and excuses for the rest.
Do you find yourself making excuses instead of making time
to do what you need to do to market your business? Here are
some ways to find the time you need.
Put it on your calendar. Make marketing a priority. Set an
appointment with yourself and honor it.
Have a system. You do not have to be perfectly organized,
but having a flow will help you to get things done in an
orderly way and avoid the panic of realizing something that
was supposed to get done, didn't. That also means knowing
where things are.
Automate. Are there routine tasks that can be automated so
that you do not have to deal with them? That might include
having bills charged to a credit card instead of writing
checks. Once a month, review the credit card statement and
pay it. Use autoresponders to keep in touch with customers.
Don't do it yourself. Hire an expert to do something that is
not one of your stregths, such as copywriting, customizing
software or other specialized tasks. Get help from a virtual
assistant, or hire help through CraigsList.org for routine
tasks that you can delegate.
Don't do it. Ask yourself if something truly needs to be
done. Just because you have always done it, doesn't mean that
you should still be doing it. Stop and think before you take
on new projects. Is this really something you should be doing?
How does it fit in with your overall goals and strategies?
And, while it is good to be involved in professional associ-
ations and community organizations, that does not mean that
you need to be deeply involved in all of them. Cut back on
your commitments if you are spending too much time there.
Make time every day to promote and grow your business.
From the Idea Lady
Making Time for Marketing
************ ********* *********
*From the Idea Lady*
Lately I have been addressing a lot of issues related to
getting things done. The other day, someone was telling me
how busy she has been and all that she has been doing. Her
list of activities certainly made it sound as though she is
busy, but she doesn't seem to be productive. There is a big
difference.
Although we can not be productive every moment, being aware
of the difference between being busy and being productive
can make you more effective and help you get more done. Your
defination of productive may not be the same as mine, but I
think I am being productive when my actions (1) generate
income or (2) directly relate to reaching a goal.
There will be lots of things you have to do that do not fit
that definition. The idea is to reduce the time you spend on
non-productive "busy-work" and increase the time you spend
being productive.
One of the best ways to do this is to eliminate the things
you do that make you feel busy but do not really serve a
purpose. Do you spend four hours comparing prices online so
you can save $20 on a purchase?
Don't create drama in your life either. Letting everything go
until the last possible minute (or a little beyond) creates
stress. And having to dump everything else and get something
overnighted to meet a deadline disrupts your workflow. Plan
ahead.
Can you streamline tasks to get them done more efficiently?
Set up online banking and pay all of your bills at once. It
only takes a few minutes, and you can get back to doing what
is important.
Do you have a to-do list? Take a look at what is on your list
for today. How many things are "busy-work" and how many will
help you to be more successful? Make an effort to accomplish
something productive every day. It will not only make you
more successful, you will probably find your work more
satisfying, too.
Cathy
************ ********* *********
*Making Time for Marketing*
There are never enough hours in the day to do everything we
want to do, or even everything we think we need to do. There
is a saying that really sums this up: We make time for what
is important, and excuses for the rest.
Do you find yourself making excuses instead of making time
to do what you need to do to market your business? Here are
some ways to find the time you need.
Put it on your calendar. Make marketing a priority. Set an
appointment with yourself and honor it.
Have a system. You do not have to be perfectly organized,
but having a flow will help you to get things done in an
orderly way and avoid the panic of realizing something that
was supposed to get done, didn't. That also means knowing
where things are.
Automate. Are there routine tasks that can be automated so
that you do not have to deal with them? That might include
having bills charged to a credit card instead of writing
checks. Once a month, review the credit card statement and
pay it. Use autoresponders to keep in touch with customers.
Don't do it yourself. Hire an expert to do something that is
not one of your stregths, such as copywriting, customizing
software or other specialized tasks. Get help from a virtual
assistant, or hire help through CraigsList.org for routine
tasks that you can delegate.
Don't do it. Ask yourself if something truly needs to be
done. Just because you have always done it, doesn't mean that
you should still be doing it. Stop and think before you take
on new projects. Is this really something you should be doing?
How does it fit in with your overall goals and strategies?
And, while it is good to be involved in professional associ-
ations and community organizations, that does not mean that
you need to be deeply involved in all of them. Cut back on
your commitments if you are spending too much time there.
Make time every day to promote and grow your business.
