Time Poor? Make sure you’re working on the RIGHT activities!

Do you struggle to “find” the time to get everything done in your business? The to-do list of a solopreneur can certainly seem never-ending as there is always something to do.

Creating and launching your programs; marketing; writing articles and blog posts; working with clients; business development; social networking; administration; filing; speaking to prospects; presenting; attending networking events; sending out invoices; paying bills; updating the website; and on it goes. Can you relate?

Last week I shared a quote with my Twitter friends, which I’d like to share with you:

“You will never ‘find’ time, you must make it.” -- Charles Buzton.

Thought provoking–yes?!

After reading this quote last year I took a step back from my business and re-evaluated my entire approach to how I was managing my time.

Not only did I look at HOW I was managing my time but also WHAT activities I was spending my time on.

The results were surprising. When looking at the tasks that were keeping me busy – I realised these activities were not business development or income-generating activities (such as marketing and product/program development) but were administrative duties that I should have been outsourcing.

I knew something had to be done to prevent me drowning in administrative and other activities that were keeping me stuck working ‘in’ my business.

Here’s an exercise I used to help me get clear and focused and that allowed me to make time to start working ‘on’ my business.

I encourage you to complete this exercise as well, as not only will it help you make time - it will help you make time for the IMPORTANT tasks that will help you reach your business and income goals, much faster.

Step 1: Draw a table with three columns.

Step 2: List ALL of the activities that you currently do in your business in the middle column.

Step 3: Select 3 to 5 items (no more) from that the list that:

(a) Gets you closer to your prospects (and money), and

(b) Demands your direct involvement. .

Move these tasks to the column to the left. Label this colum “My Unique Talents”.

For instance, marketing is a function that is very important and something that I know requires my direct involvement. This includes writing articles and blog posts and networking online through my social network platforms.

These activities are what will get me closer to my prospects and therefore demands my direct input. And, as these activities exude my ‘brand voice’ and involve direct communication and interaction with prospects and clients, I would not consider outsourcing these activities.

Step 4: Review all of the things that are still in the middle column and move them over to the right hand column. Label this column: “My Support Team”.

Here’s a portion of what my list looks like:

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My Unique Talents-------------- All Business Activities------------- My Support Team

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Interviewing guests <----- Interviewing guests (for Business Success Podcast)

(for Business Success Podcast)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Uploading audio files --------------------> Uploading audio files

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Editing audio files---------------------> Editing audio files

Writing articles/blog posts<------------- Writing articles / blog posts

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Uploading articles to article sites-->Uploading articles to article sites

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Uploading blog posts ---------->Uploading blog posts

Writing Tweets <---------------------- Writing Tweets (for social network)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Scheduling Tweets --------------> Scheduling Tweets

Coaching clients <---------------------- Coaching clients

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As you can see for me, the only things I want to be doing in my business involve:

- Marketing, (any activity that involves communicating my brand and my voice to my target market/clients)

- Creating programs and products (requiring my expertise)

- Interviewing my guests on Business Success Podcast (as this continues to promote my brand to my listeners and community)

- Coaching clients

Making time to work on business building activities is vital. Therefore all administrative and other tasks that do not require your direct involvement or expertise should eventually be outsourced to your support team.

If you are not yet in a position to afford a support team, I recommend allocating 10-15% of your income to put towards hiring staff. That’s what I did when I first started my business. Then when I was ready to hand this over to a team member, I created a step-by-step instruction sheet which explained the exact process they were to complete.

What do you think? Was this helpful? Are you spending too much time on tasks that you should be outsourcing and not enough time on activities that will get you closer to your prospective clients?