One of the things I love about my clients is that they are primarily 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.
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?
1. Clarify your goals and objectives. 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 5 more monthly retainer clients;” “I want to delegate 10 hours of work per week to an assistant.”
2. 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 objective. 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.
3. Establish Support Systems. To effectively execute your plan, it’s crucial to monitor your progress. For example, my strategy to boost revenue this year includes attending at least one networking event per month, meeting a new person every week, publishing my newsletter monthly, and joining our local chamber of commerce. Tracking all these activities in my head would be impossible, so I use an Excel spreadsheet to record my weekly progress.
If you need extra accountability or aim to scale your efforts, consider hiring a coach.
4. 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.
Do your goal setting and planning in quiet. Also, do it separately from your day to day activities. Be clear in your language and remove any ambiguity. Stick with it, even when you’re feeling short on time or energy. Be sure to add time to keep updating your systems.5. Delegate, delegate, delegate. Hire assistance to handle tasks you don’t have time for or prefer not to do. There are likely items on your to-do list that fit this description.
Ultimately, you’ll feel more focused, accomplish more, and enjoy your business far more than you ever imagined.