A big part of being an entrepreneur comes from desire and passion. The thing about many new Internet Marketing entrepreneurs is often that they get too excited to sit down and focus on one task at a time and can spend time running around in circles not accomplishing much.
Setting up a routine and focusing on time management can be a good way to ensure you get things done and move forward in your plan. Desire and passion are all well and good but what you need to achieve your goals is ACTION. Scheduling your time effectively is the best way to ensure you meet your goals.
But wait! I want to be an entrepreneur! I thought working from home would give me freedom. Do I really need to make a schedule?
Organise Your Time Effectively
Anyone who is successful and sustains success for a long time knows that you have to organise your time effectively so that things get done.
This isn’t restrictive, despite how it sounds. In fact, it helps you keep a handle on things and your schedule and task list are flexible so there is still an element of control. The thing is, you need to control your day in order to control the outcome of each day.
Your Action Plan
Do you have a plan yet of what you want? It’s great to want to be a successful entrepreneur and you can do it if you set your mind to it but you need to devise a plan that includes goals and achievements.
Short term plans work well, especially if they’re part of a big plan. Each plan should have goals and measurables in place that can tell you whether or not you’re on target to move to the next phase of your plan.
There should always be a next phase, regardless of what you accomplish. The sure way to success and fulfilment is to continuously strive for self improvement. Not all goals need to be monetary!
Baby Steps
Baby steps are tasks. Each day you need to set up your tasks so that you know you are moving toward achievement. You may have a very flexible schedule but there should be tasks you work at every day that help you move in the right direction. Making a to-do list each night for the following day is important.
Your To Do List
Whether you use a day planner or online software to track your tasks and goals, make sure you check the tasks off as they are done. At the end of each day, decide if anything needs to be carried over to the next day. Taking these steps will help you a lot with your time management skills.
It really helps to see what you’ve accomplished each day and it also helps to own the fact that you may not meet all your objectives so that you can plan for productivity for the next day.
Tip: Get rid of the least desirable tasks first each day. That way you don’t feel weighed down with dread over procrastination!
Dream Big, But Be Logical…
There’s nothing wrong with dreaming big, but big dreams are accomplished with little tasks that lead up to that. Being self-employed either part or full time requires drive and ambition and you absolutely will find you have more success if you track your plans, your tasks, and measure your results one step at a time.
About Sean Rasmussen
Hi Sean,
I think this is naturally a strength for me. However, I do still need to review my goals and plans at times to ensure I am making the most of my time. It can be easy to get in a rut and not be as effective and productive as you think you are.
I agree you have to be careful that you don’t go off track. I find by setting small goals and ticking them off as I go I can see that I am actually making progress.
I have found this especially helpful with social media, in particular when setting up my fan page
Hi Sean, I don’t have a to do list but I just think up what’s the next day’s task would be and again time management is as important as anything. Sometimes I hardly action what I plan for as time catches up with me. Some tasks actually take longer than expected. Great tips here Sean.
Thanks
Rose
Hi Sean, I seriously have to do up a “To Do List” and stick to it!!..Thank you also for stressing on the Time Management and to actually action out our plans. Taking baby steps are truly the tasks to achieving our big dreams.
Thanks again.
Rose
Hi Sean,
I really needed this reminder and I know how important it is. I must put it into practice consistently! Thanks
Geri
Oh isn’t that one of my downfalls! I do write up schedules – then promptly go off them – and tasks like tweeting don’t get done – time to reform!
Hi Sean,
I’m really going to make an effort to follow the steps here. If they are only baby steps, well at least it’s a start. I can be a time waster and making up a to-do list will benefit me so much.
The tips here will help me very much with time management.
This is a very important and sound article.
Managing time is the ultimate war to win. Time is money and we have only a certain amount of time in our lives. We don’t even know how much that is.
I can say with certainty that we all have the same amount of time every day. Time is so precious. I am always willing to manage time more efficiently and I have found even more tips in this article that I can use right now.
It’s a war I am losing at the moment – would like to blame this competition – but it was a condition established well before! LOL
Be logical he says! That’s asking a bit much – if I do it, then I have to have a ‘to do’ list, an action plan and manage my time better!
Gee, that would mean I would get everything done – then where would I be.